Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) System

 

Manufacturer: Thar Designs, USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFE technology is comparable to solvent based or other extraction technologies.

The system features allow the application data that is generated during research for process scale-up to a turnkey plant. Automation with PC based software for process scale-up to a turnkey plant. Automation with PC based software control gives user maximum flexibility in addition to repeatable and reliable system operation. Data logged during the runs can be analyzed and stored.

 

The system consists of the following components:

 

High-pressure components:

1)    Back Pressure Regulator – BPR

2)    Back Pressure RegulatorPump

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)    Finger tight vessel

 

 

 

1)    The Smart Back Pressure Regulator is state of the art in back pressure control for supercritical fluids. A built in pressure sensor provides closed-loop feedback for pressure control. The Back Pressure regulator can easily be programmed using a hand-held controller and does not require a PC for operation.

 

Features:

 

Designed for Supercritical Fluids

Wide Flow Range

Flow Stability

Easy maintenance

Automated to maintain set-point

PID algorithm

Easy setup and integration

Wide Pressure Range

Closed Loop Feedback

CE

 

 

2)    The high performance pump is feature dual sapphire pistons, minimizes pressure pulses, built-in pressure sensor, gauge, and rupture disc. The pumps are capable of control based on feedback from the pressure sensor or flow meter. The ability to control pressure or flow is enhanced by the rear mounted brushless variable-speed high torque motor. The pumps can be controlled using a hand-held controller or via PC using software.

 

Features of SFE:

 

Features

Fractionation Capability

Flow rate

100ml

Pressure

50-600 bar

Temperature

Ambient – 1500C @ 600 bar

CO2 flow rate

50g/min

Cyclone

200ml

Method Programming

Yes

Data Logging

Yes

Applications:

 

  • Pharmaceutical purifications
  • Nutraceutical products extractions
  • Essential oils from plants
  • Photoresist cleaning
  • Precision parts cleaning
  • Fractionation of polymers
  • Impregnation and reactions

 

Application Example: 

SEC can be applied to examine the changes in Micro/nanostructures of the organogel

 

  1. System: 10% w/v L-Lauroyl-n-glutamic acid –di-butylamide (LGADB; Trade name: GP-1) in the Isostearyl alcohol (ISA), prepared in situ rheological plates.
  2. Conditions for SFC:

·         The flow rate of Sc.CO2 = 20 g/min

·          Temperatures in the Vessel, BPR & HE2 = 35 °C

·          Duration of extraction = 1 hr

  1.  Conditions for SEM: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM): JEOL JSM-5600LV Powder obtained from Sc.CO2 is coated with metal titanium (available source) for 60 s to achieve a better contrast

 

(a) The organogel of 6.7%w/v LGADB in ISA formed by so-called “natural cooling” where hot gelator solution (1200C) is cooled naturally to room temperature.

(b) The organogel of 6.7%w/v LGADB in ISA formed by so-called “quenching” where hot gelator solution (1200C) is cooled fast to 200C at the controlled cooling rate of 500C/minute insitu rheological parallel plates using air/liquid N2 mixture.