Supercritical Fluid Extraction of β-Carotene from Crude Palm Oil Using CO۲ in a Bubbler Extractor: Mass Transfer Study

In this study, the diffusivity and volumetric mass transfer coefficients for the extraction of β-carotene from crude palm oil using CO۲ solvent in supercritical fluid were determined in the pressure range of ۷.۵-۱۷.۵ MPa and temperature range of ۸۰-۱۲۰ ºC. For this purpose, a statistical method was applied in order to minimize the number of experiments required. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient for the extraction of β-carotene was then correlated as a function of pressure, temperature and extraction time in order to study the effect of each of these variables on the coefficient. The experimental results showed that the maximum volumetric mass transfer coefficient was around ۲.۴۸۶ × ۱۰-۲ s-۱ at pressure of ۷.۵ MPa, temperature of ۱۰۰ ºC and extraction time of ۱ hour. The minimum volumetric mass transfer coefficient was ۰.۰۴۶ × ۱۰-۲ s-۱ at pressure of ۱۷.۵ MPa, temperature of ۱۲۰ ºC and extraction time of ۵ hours. The optimum volumetric mass transfer coefficient was statistically obtained around ۶.۷۰۰ × ۱۰-۳ s-۱ at pressure of ۱۷.۷ MPa, temperature of ۱۰۰.۵ ºC and extraction time of ۳.۹ hours.

کلیدواژه ها:

β-Carotene ، diffusion ، Extraction ، Mass transfer ، Optimization ، Supercritical fluid