Antisolvent fractionation towards purified natural products

Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem

Oláh György Doktori Iskola (Kémia és Vegyészmérnöki tudományok)

Kózelné Székely Edit

bio-, környezet- és vegyészmérnöki tudományok

Natural extracts, while the range and type of compounds depend on the selected solvent, always include a large number of different chemicals. Antisolvent fractionation with supercritical carbon dioxide recently gained attention in the scientific literature. Supercritical fluid extraction has worldwide large scale sites (>300 processing plants) for natural extract production; however this is only applicable for the selective recovery of relatively nonpolar components having relatively low molecular mass like oils, phytosterols, colourants, etc. Other families of compounds, widespread in plants, are not soluble in supercritical carbon dioxide to the extent of designing economic recovery techniques. Most essential examples of such chemical groups are polyphenols, bioflavonoids, typical antioxidants, tannins, some alkaloids and in general the glycosylated forms of nonpolar components. In recent years our attention turned to the separation of valuable bioactives for different purposes from a single plant raw material. Besides the combination of extraction techniques (e.g. supercritical carbon dioxide and hydroalcoholic extraction still resulting safe products with non-restricted solvent residues only, suitable for organic –bio– products as well) further processing of industrial residues (e.g. essential oil production) is also an exciting possibility with clear environmental and economic benefits. As an option antisolvent fractionation was also tested, with great success. Aim of the doctoral research is to develop novel separation processes and gain a deeper understanding on the applicability on the antisolvent processes for the purification of natural extracts.

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BME Kémiai és Környezeti Folyamatmérnöki Tanszék

2025-12-07