Supercritical fluid extraction of black pepper (Piper nigrun L.) essential oil

Fixed bed extraction of black pepper essential oil using supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent was studied. Composition of the extracted oil was obtained by chromatographic analysis, and solubility of the oil was determined using the dynamic method of extraction. Experiments were conducted at 30°C, 40°C and 50°C and 150, 200 and 300 bar. Solubility varied from 0.09 to 0.15 g oil/g CO2 and increased with the solvent density. In the extraction curves (mass of oil versus mass of CO2) it was possible to identify the constant extraction rate period as well as the failing and diffusion rate periods. About 70% of the total oil was extracted during the constant rate period