BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT96-2003 - EXTEN: Volume extraction and encapsulation of substances used as flavour chemicals, pharmaceutical raw substances, biochemicals and enzymatic systems

FAIR-CT96-2003
EXTEN: Volume extraction and encapsulation of substances used as flavour chemicals, pharmaceutical raw substances, biochemicals and enzymatic systems

Contacts
Further Information

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT96-2003
	Total Cost	2,590,017 ECU
	EC Contribution	1,500,017 ECU
	Start Date	01/12/1997
	Duration	36 Months

Volume extraction and encapsulation of substances used as flavour chemicals, pharmaceutical raw substances, biochemicals and enzymatic systems

Objectives

Conventional methods of solvent extraction, particularly within the pharmaceutical industries, involve leaching or percolation with an organic solvent such as dichloromethane or hexane. The need to select for a particular molecule leads to the use of these environmentally undesirable solvents, and residues in the extract can often cause problems for downstream processing. This project is developing a two-stage continuous extraction process based on the supercritical fluid extraction of an initial hydroalcoholic extract of the raw botanical material.

Technical Approach

Microencapsulation is often necessary for product preservation and functionality. For product preservation, particularly against atmospheric oxidation, it is desirable that encapsulation of the product should occur as an in-line process. Supercritical fluid techniques provide a solution here and the project is seeking to develop in-line encapsulation after the extraction process through the rapid expansion of the supercritical solution.

Expected Results

I. Direct Results

Development and realisation of a three-stage continuous, in-line process for the extraction and encapsulation of botanical substances, with the following aims:

optimised, continuous hydroalcoholic extraction, reducing processing time by up to 20%
selective processing of hydroalcoholic botanical extracts through supercritical fluid extraction, to obtain active molecules to high purity
reducing downstream processing owing to higher purity and yield of extract
in-line encapsulation process to allow immediate encapsulation of extract for preservation and/or slow release
reducing requirement for environmentally unfriendly solvents through optimisation of extraction using water, ethanol and carbon dioxide
allowing the development of novel encapsulated extracts from botanical sources

II. Indirect Results

model for mass transfer of active substances from botanical matrix into hydroalcoholic solution
determination of phase diagram for ternary ethanol-water-carbon dioxide
models of phase equilibrium of the active substances between hydroalcoholic liquid phase and supercritical phase
the application of novel supercritical fluid chromatography techniques for the analysis of extracts

These results are to be obtained through experimental extraction, modelling of the extraction and mass transfer processes, and work to establish an in-line encapsulation process using a rapid expansion of supercritical solvent approach. The technology will be scaled up to demonstration extraction/encapsulation plants.

Applications

The integrated technology will be applied in the botanical extracts industry, but elements of it will be useful for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, waste treatment, and other industrial sectors that require advanced separation and purification processes.

Results To Date

The first stage hydroalcoholic extraction process has been optimised for maximum concentration of actives from several test botanicals. A pilot scale hydroalcoholic extractor has now been built. Although computer modelling of the tertiary water-ethanol-CO₂ solvent was not successful owing to the complexities of the phase behaviour, a phase diagram has been mapped. Correlation of experimental thermodynamic data has assisted with the development of supercritical fluid extraction of hydroalcoholic extracts at the laboratory scale. The pilot scale SFE extraction stage has been designed and ordering is now commencing. Supercritical fluid chromatography has been developed with FTIR and mass spectrometry for analysis of the experimental samples.

Spray cooling encapsulation has been developed as a precursor to a more novel technique based on the use of supercritical fluids. The initial in-line encapsulation concept utilising RESS has been tested in the laboratory and has been deemed non-feasible, but other similar concepts using supercritical fluids are being evaluated.

Camomile

Products containing natural plant extracts

Contacts

Coordinator

Keith HELLIWELL / William Ransom & Son plc UNITED KINGDOM

EC Scientific Officer

Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM

Participant