Chapter The Impact of Supercritical Extraction and Fractionation Technology on the Functional Food and Nutraceutical Industry

Fluids reach a supercritical condition when they rise above their critical temperature and critical pressure (Figure 23.1a). Supercritical uids (SCF) possess high compressibility, low surface tension, liquid-like density, gas-like viscosity, and diffusivity in between a liquids and gas condition (Figure 23.1b). The ability to manipulate the physical properties of a solvent by simply changing the pressure or temperature is unique to supercritical systems, enabling the control of extraction conditions, separation, and the reaction environment.