Conclusion

Using the Aspen Plus steady state process simulator, SFE technology has been successfully
designed, simulated and analysed for a new SFE-based process of refined palm oil
production. It has been found that the two-step process is suitable for enriching tocopherols
and for removing FFA from CPO using supercritical CO2 as a solvent. In the first extraction
column, -tocopherol and FFA were separated from palm oil TG and -carotene. The palm
oil FFA content decreased from 4.5% to 0.1%. -carotene usually remains in the oil phase. It
has been found that the extraction phase consisting mainly of FFA and -tocopherol is
suitable for further processing. The steady-state simulation has successfully demonstrated
the conceptual feasibility of an alternative scheme for refining palm oil of refined quality
while maintaining a high -carotene value while simultaneously recovering tocopherols.
Advantages
The application of carbon dioxide as a supercritical fluid has been thoroughly studied in the past 30
years, especially in food processing. Supercritical fluid (SCF) at critical temperatures and pressures
shows unique properties that are different from those of gases or liquids under standard conditions.
Carbon dioxide easily penetrates the solid matrix and can dissolve the desired extract for its dual gas
and liquid like properties. SFE utilizes the ability of a chemical to function as a good solvent for a
particular desired ingredient under an appropriate set of pressure and temperature conditions. The
final product obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction retains its quality and the
stability of thermally unstable natural components is guaranteed without changing the biological
activity of the natural molecule. SFE has been shown as a technically feasible alternative to both
extraction and purification processes, especially of natural oils and bioactive compounds. This is
fairly rapid due to the low viscosity and high diffusivity associated with SCF. Extraction selectivity can
be achieved by varying temperature, pressure and co-solvent, the extracted material can be easily
recovered by simple decompression, return supercritical CO2 to gaseous state and evaporate
Natural fats and oils obtained by SC-CO2 extraction are mostly traces of solvents, which are of
excellent quality and are equivalent to those obtained by the organic solvent extraction method.
Solvent power of SC-CO2 is good as it dissolves nonpolar to slightly polar compounds. The addition
of a small amount of polar organic solvent as a modifier improves the extraction of polar compounds
by increasing the solubility of the analyte in CO2 or by reducing its interaction with the sample
matrix or both can do.