SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION.

The design of biochemical and pharmaceutical separation processes is often constrained by the heat-sensitivity of the products, organisms or enzymes involved and the widespread occurrence of dilute aqueous product streams requiring large energy expenditures for processing. In addition, many biochemical products are intended for use in foods and pharmaceuticals and are therefore subject to regulations which may limit the methods used in their production and recovery. Use of supercritical or near-critical solvents, which are compounds with critical temperature and pressure near the operating conditions of the process, has been suggested for application to the biological process industries. This interest stems from the prospect of achieving substantial energy savings while conducting separations at low temperatures using physiologically inert solvents.