Question

Which of the followings is/are commonly used medium/media in the supercritical fluid extraction of spices and tea?

• A. Water
• B. Carbon dioxide
• C. Dichloromethane
• D. Carbon dioxide with Ethanol

Hint:

Supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most commonly used medium for supercritical fluid extraction due to its effectiveness and safety.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B, D

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is a technique used for extracting bioactive compounds from various substances, including spices and tea. The most commonly used supercritical fluids are:

Step 1: Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
CO2 is a commonly used supercritical fluid because it is non-toxic, non-flammable, and can be easily separated from the extracted compounds. It is widely used for extracting essential oils, flavors, and caffeine from tea and coffee.

Step 2: Water
Water can also be used as a supercritical fluid for extraction, especially when water-soluble compounds need to be extracted.

Step 3: Dichloromethane
While dichloromethane is an organic solvent commonly used in liquid-phase extractions, it is not a typical supercritical fluid used in the supercritical extraction process.

Step 4: Carbon dioxide with Ethanol
A mixture of CO2 and ethanol can be used for certain extractions to improve solubility, but this combination is not as common as CO2 alone.

Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{(B) Carbon dioxide}} \]