Supercritical CO2 extraction of oil from Jatropha curcas: An experimental and modelling study

Abstract Experimental and modelling investigations of supercritical CO 2 extraction of oil from Jatropha curcas were conducted at a pressure range of 20–40 MPa and a temperature range of 313–333 K at a CO 2 flow rate of 0.4 kg/h. The extraction yield was estimated to be about 0.6 kg oil /kg biomass for all experiments. The model of broken and intact cells published by Sovova was applied. It was found that the extraction of type B was the most suited extraction type to apply as the experimental extraction curves exhibit three parts. Whatever the pressure and the temperature applied, the asymptotic yield at infinite time was found to be the same. At 20 MPa, increasing the temperature from 313 to 323 K enhances the extraction kinetics. A retrograde solubility zone was found at 30 and 40 MPa. The Jatropha curcas oil solubility in SC-CO 2 was determined and the data were modelled with the Chrastil equation.