Supercritical Fluid Extraction Techniques for Bioactive Compounds in Natural Products
Summary
The extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources has evolved with the application of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) techniques, most notably using carbon dioxide (CO₂) above its critical point (31 °C, 7.4 MPa). In this supercritical state, CO₂ exhibits liquid-like density and gas-like viscosity, enabling efficient penetration of plant matrices and rapid mass transfer. By adjusting pressure and temperature, operators can fine-tune solvent strength and selectivity for target molecules such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and lipophilic antioxidants. The addition of a polar co-solvent (for example ethanol) broadens the range of extractable compounds. Ultrahigh-pressure SFE systems, operating at pressures up to 80 MPa, have demonstrated accelerated extraction rates and higher yields of polar lipids. Hybrid approaches combining ultrasound or microwave assistance further reduce extraction time and energy consumption. Advances in process modelling and continuous-flow designs allow real-time control of phase equilibria and fractionation, underpinning scalable, green and solvent-free protocols for nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.
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Supercritical Fluid Extraction Techniques for Bioactive Compounds in Natural Products publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in supercritical fluid extraction techniques for bioactive compounds in natural products across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Supercritical fluid: A phase above the critical temperature and pressure where liquid and gas phases merge, exhibiting tunable density and solvating power.
Supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂): Carbon dioxide in a supercritical state, prized for its non-toxic, non-flammable nature and adjustable solvency for non-polar and moderately polar compounds.
Co-solvent: A secondary solvent, often polar (for example ethanol), added in small proportion to enhance the solubility of polar analytes in the supercritical phase.
Extraction yield: The mass of target compounds recovered relative to the mass of the initial sample, reflecting process efficiency.
Mass transfer: The movement of solutes from the solid matrix into the supercritical phase, governed by diffusivity, solvent density and matrix porosity.
References
- Solvent Supercritical Fluid Technologies to Extract Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: A Review. Molecules (2017).
- Ultrahigh-pressure supercritical fluid extraction and chromatography of Moringa oleifera and Moringa peregrina seed lipids. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (2019).
- Supercritical CO2 Fluid Extraction of Elaeagnus mollis Diels Seed Oil and Its Antioxidant Ability. Molecules (2019).
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