Solubility measurements and analysis of binary, ternary and quaternary systems of palm olein, squalene and oleic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide

• Published in: Separation and purification technology Vol. 83; pp. 189 - 195
• Main Authors: Al-Darmaki, N., Lu, T., Al-Duri, B., Harris, J.B., Favre, T.L.F., Bhaggan, K., Santos, R.C.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15-11-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; carbon dioxide; Chemical engineering; equations; Exact sciences and technology; Oleic acid; palm oils; Palm olein; Selectivity; Solubility; Squalene; Supercritical carbon dioxide; temperature; Squalene; Selectivity; Supercritical carbon dioxide; Oleic acid; Palm olein; Solubility; Ternary system; Binary system; Carbon dioxide; Supercritical state; Quaternary system; Dynamic method; Trend analysis
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2011.09.043

► Squalene has higher solubility compared to other lipids in supercritical carbon dioxide. ► The presence of oleic acid decreases the selectivity of squalene. ► Molecular interactions affect solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide. ► Fractionation of squalene and oleic acid is feasible using supercritical carbon dioxide.
Through the application of a dynamic method, the solubility of three lipid components with different volatilities and polarities was measured in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO
2). Binary systems of CO
2/squalene (SQ), CO
2/oleic acid (OA) and CO
2/pseudo-component palm olein (PO) were measured at temperatures of 313, 333 and 353
K, and at a pressure range of 10–30
MPa. A ternary system of CO
2/SQ/PO and a quaternary system of CO
2/SQ/PO/OA were also investigated at 313
K and pressures of 10–25
MPa. Comparison of the ternary system with the binary system showed a decrease in the solubility of SQ, with a corresponding rise in the solubility of PO. In the quaternary system, the presence of OA decreased the selectivity of SQ. The data were correlated using Chrastil’s equation in order to examine the general trend of solubility behaviour.