Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and fractionation of bio-oil

In this study a supercritical fluid extraction process using carbon dioxide as a solvent was developed and investigated as a potential energy efficient and cost effective alternative to conventional distillation for the extraction and subsequent fractionation of high value renewable chemicals from lignocellulosic bio-oil. Fundamental solubility studies utilizing both laboratory and pilot infrastructure were completed, and equation of state modelling and process simulations developed for the first time for this supercritical fluid extraction process. Techno-economic evaluation of the processes revealed that supercritical fluid extraction of bio-oil is a competitive alternate to conventional distillation process.