Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Seed Oils
Summary
Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) employs pressurised and heated fluids—most commonly carbon dioxide above its critical temperature and pressure—to isolate bioactive lipids from plant seeds. At supercritical conditions, CO₂ exhibits gas-like diffusivity paired with liquid-like solvating power, enabling efficient penetration of seed matrices and selective solubilisation of oils. Adjustable parameters such as temperature, pressure and flow rate permit fine-tuning of solvent density and polarity, which in turn optimises yield, purity and antioxidant retention. Compared with conventional solvent extraction, SFE affords reduced solvent residues, lower thermal degradation of unsaturated fatty acids and diminished environmental impact. The technique has been applied to a wide range of oil-bearing seeds—grape, blackcurrant, cloudberry, raspberry and others—yielding oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, carotenoids and phytosterols. Global interest in SFE of seed oils reflects its alignment with green processing, nutraceutical development and high-value co-product valorisation in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
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Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Seed Oils publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in supercritical fluid extraction of seed oils across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Supercritical fluid: A substance at temperature and pressure above its critical point, exhibiting hybrid properties of gases and liquids, used as a tunable solvent in extraction.
Critical point: The specific combination of temperature and pressure at which a substance’s liquid and gas phases become indistinguishable.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): Fatty acids containing more than one carbon–carbon double bond, valued for nutritional and therapeutic benefits.
Tocopherols: Lipid-soluble antioxidants (vitamin E isomers) that protect unsaturated lipids from oxidative degradation.
Phytosterols: Sterol compounds present in plant oils, noted for cholesterol-lowering and anti-inflammatory properties in human health applications.
References
- Native Oils from Apple, Blackcurrant, Raspberry, and Strawberry Seeds as a Source of Polyenoic Fatty Acids, Tocochromanols, and Phytosterols: A Health Implication. Journal of Chemistry (2015).
- Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Berry Seeds: Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity. Journal of Food Quality (2018).
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