SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION OF FUNGAL OIL USING CO2, N2O, CHF3 AND SF6

The extraction of oil from fungi (Mortierella ramanniana var. angulispora) was studied using carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), trifluoromethane (CHF3) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) under supercritical conditions. The oil solubility was highest in SC-N2O followed by SC-CO2, while both SC-CHF3 and SC-SF6 showed poorer solvent power. The recorded oil solubilities at 333 K and 24.5 MPa were 2.3 wt% in N2O, 0.48 wt% in CO2, 0.0099 wt% in CHF3 and 0.0012 wt% in SF6. The oil solubilities in SC-N2O and SC-CO2 were measured over the pressure range 15.7-29.4 MPa and at temperatures ranging from 313-353 K. N2O always showed greater solvent power than did CO2 at the same temperature and pressure. The solvent power of a supercritical fluid increases with density at a given temperature, and increases with temperature at constant density. The change in neutral lipid composition of the extracted oil with the extraction ratio was measured. Free fatty acids or diglycerides were extracted more easily than triglycerides or sterol esters. The change in fatty acid composition was also measured. The proportion of γ-linolenic acid in the extract remained constant throughout the extraction. © 1990 AOCS Press.