Equilibrium solubilities of spearmint oil components in supercritical carbon dioxide

The equilibrium solubilities of L-carvone and L-limonene in the binary (L-carvone-CO2, and L-limonene-CO2,) and ternary (L-carvone-L-limonene-CO2) systems were obtained at 39 degrees C and 49 degrees C and at pressures ranging from 6 to 10 MPa. The solubilities of these components increased with a pressure increase or a temperature decrease. The solubility of L-limonene was higher than that of L-carvone at the same temperature and pressure. The correlation of the solubilities using Chrastil equation revealed that the solubilities of both components were strongly dependent on the density of CO2. In the ternary system simulating the actual spearmint oil composition, the solubility of L-carvone was similar but the solubility of L-limonene was lower as compared to their solubilities in the binary systems. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.