Improving on Nature’s Bounty

When carbon dioxide gas (CO₂) is compressed above 73 bar at a temperature above 31° C (87.8 degrees Fahrenheit) it transforms into a dense gas known as Supercritical CO₂. Supercritical CO₂ has an extremely high solvating capacity -- the power to extract the constituents of botanicals. Because its solvating capacity is a function of its density, by changing its density (with pressure) we are able to select the quality, quantity and specific principles of the targeted extract.

Supercritical CO₂ is biologically compatible, and generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. It is non-flammable and relatively inexpensive.

A typical Supercritical fluid extraction would include the following steps:

1. Raw material is placed in a sealed vessel
   
2. CO₂ is pumped in
   
3. The mixture is pressurized
   
4. Supercritical carbon dioxide is circulated through the mixture until a specific raw material/carbon dioxide ratio is achieved
   
5. Pressure is relieved in increments, allowing the CO₂ to return to its gaseous form
   
6. Finished extract is removed
   

Our supercritical fluid extraction process has two primary advantages over conventional solvent extraction processes: