Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of essential oils and mathematical modelling on the micro-scale - General model

Abstract

General model for the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of essential oils on the secretory structure scale (micro-scale) is presented in this study. The model containes Source and Transfer term which describes mass transfer from specific secretory structure. Modelling results for each specific type of secretory structure are presented. Mathematical modelling on the micro-scale and process simulation also pointed out how the process of supercritical fluid extraction should be conducted or which type of pretreatment should be performed, referred to the secretory structure behavior during the extraction. The advantage of mathematical modelling on the micro scale is that it reveals phenomena on the secretory structure scale and indicates possibilities for process optimization.