Numerical and experimental assessment of separator vessel filter pore size in supercritical CO2 extraction of coriander seed essential oil

Abstract

This study investigates the extraction yield of three key compounds of coriander seeds (Linalool, Geranyl acetate, and α-pinene) under exposure to filters having different pore sizes. The experimental design, conducted in a supercritical CO₂ extraction apparatus to evaluate coriander essential oil quality, aimed to validate the simulation of the extraction process based on computational fluid dynamics principles. Polyether-sulfone membranes (pore sizes of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 µm) were placed in the separator vessel of the supercritical extraction device to monitor the performance of the extract’s key components under the recommended optimum conditions of 200 bar and 35 °C. Prior to experimental testing, numerical analysis successfully simulated the optimum extraction conditions with supercritical CO₂, offering insight into how and under what conditions the membranes function optimally. Statistical analysis determined that the 0.3 µm was the optimal membrane pore size for extracting the main compounds of coriander (Linalool, Geranyl acetate, and α-pinene) resulting in a substantial increase in Linalool compared to the Hydro-distillation method (31.89 %). It is concluded that a membrane with the appropriate pore size can positively affect the quantity of the extracted compounds. These findings provide a scientific understanding of the numerical behavior of components and can aid in making informed decisions for various aspects of food engineering processes.