Extraction of oil from wheat germ by supercritical CO2

Molecules. 2009 Jul 15;14(7):2573-81. doi: 10.3390/molecules14072573.

Abstract

This study examined the supercritical fluid extraction of wheat germ oil. The effects of pressure (200-300 bar at 40 degrees C) and extraction time on the oil quality/quantity were studied. A comparison was also made between the relative qualities of material obtained by SFE and by organic solvent extraction. The extracts were analyzed for alpha-tocopherol and polyunsaturated fatty acid content. The maximum wheat germ oil yield at about 9% was obtained with supercritical carbon dioxide extraction at 300 bar, while fatty acid and alpha-tocopherol composition of the extracts was not remarkable affected by either pressure or the extraction method.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Chloroform / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Hexanes / chemistry
  • Methanol / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / isolation & purification*
  • Pressure
  • Triticum / chemistry*
  • alpha-Tocopherol / analysis

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Hexanes
  • Plant Extracts
  • Plant Oils
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • wheat germ oil
  • Chloroform
  • alpha-Tocopherol
  • Methanol