Supercritical CO2 Extraction: How Compression Technology Helps Manufacturers Meet Market Demand

Beyond the tight controls and purity, supercritical CO₂ extraction methods offer an opportunity for standardized production in multi-state or global companies regardless of differing regulations across jurisdictions.

While supercritical extraction systems may pose a higher upfront cost, they also offer significant advantages in comparison to combustible solvent extraction methods:

• Supercritical Extraction:
  • Non-toxic
  • Non-flammable
  • Easier to standardize with the same equipment across facilities
• Combustible Solvent Extraction (Ethanol, Hydrocarbon):
  • Could require significant changes and capital investments
  • Pose safety hazards
  • Require explosion-proof walls, venting, and fire suppression systems
  • Safety requirements may cause variations in manufacturing from plant-to-plant

As regulations go into effect around vaping-related illnesses and the dangers of vaping product contaminants, further emphasis is put on both purity and controls. Today's legitimate extraction processes are safer than in the past and innovation in high-pressure systems have further increased reliability and safety.

Maximizing Efficiency of CO₂ Extraction

During the extraction process, supercritical CO₂ must be recirculated, extending run times. Depending on the extraction technique, secondary processing may also be needed on the oil. CO₂ can require substantial secondary processing if the extraction is done quickly at high pressure. The lower the extraction pressure, the slower the extraction time, but less secondary processing or refining is required.

The CO₂ is fed into the extractor vessels at pressures greater than 1,000 psi and temperatures greater than 90 degrees F, then recovered from the extraction vessel at approximately 250 psi, re-pressurized and heated until the desired results are achieved.

A CO₂ circuit is a mechanically and thermodynamically complicated system. Manufacturers use gas boosters, pumps, or a combination of the two to meet pressure requirements with maximum throughput and efficiency. With a broadening array of high-pressure solutions, including hydraulic and electric boosters that can reduce total production costs, manufacturers have new options in designing supercritical CO2 lines. High-volume manufacturers using supercritical CO₂ extraction are standardizing around 5 gpm of liquid CO₂, which is readily achieved with an electric booster such as Haskel’s Q-Drive.

Careful manufacturing process design and high-pressure system selection can significantly improve yield to meet rising market demands. As supercritical CO₂ extraction technologies catch on, gas bottlers must meet rising demands to avoid a supply shortage. Their requirements for increased yield and efficiencies in gas compression mirror those of their customers. 

Compressed gas companies can help meet demands by understanding and supporting customers’ manufacturing processes to increase their yield, purity, and quality control.

Haskel’s Q-Drive electric gas boosters are designed for clean, quiet, and efficient operation while delivering significant energy savings, allow greater process control, and improve reliability during the supercritical CO₂ extraction process.