Buffalo Extraction Systems’ Level 1 Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SCFE) System

The Decisive Importance of Technical Specifications

Technical specifications are the details that enable clients to take a call on which version of the equipment model is best suited for their manufacturing facility. After all the briefings and due diligence, it is the technical specs that play the decisive role.

Buffalo Extraction Systems offers equipment for Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SCFE) using Carbon dioxide (CO₂) in three levels viz. Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 in ascending order of the capacity (volume) of the single extractor utilized in the process.

Level 1 CO₂ SCFE System: Technical Specifications

Table 1 details the technical specifications of the Level 1 Carbon dioxide Supercritical Fluid Extraction (CO₂ SCFE) system. Here is a brief discussion on the important ones:

Table 1. Technical Specifications of Buffalo Extraction Systems’ Level 1 Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SCFE) System

• Pressure: Extractor pressure is among the most critical parameters for the efficiency of the SCFE process. Operational pressure range for the equipment is quite wide i.e. between 350 and 650 bar (5,000 to 9,000 PSI), which makes the equipment capable of extracting different target molecules from multiple raw materials. 

• Temperature: Equipment works between the temperature limits of 70 and 110⁰C (158 and 230 ⁰F). The solubility of different target molecules in supercritical CO₂ depends on the solvent’s fluid density, which changes with both pressure and temperature. By providing a range of temperatures achievable through our system, it is possible to fine tune the solubility to achieve the desired extraction.

• Flow Rate of CO₂ Pump: Carbon dioxide circulates through the equipment at the rate of 40 to 80 LPH. Flow rate is another critical parameter for the SCFE process for it influences efficiency, yield, and mass transfer rates.

Extraction yields improve with optimized flow rates. Along with pressure, temperature, sample quantity, and time, flow rate affects extraction efficiency. Varying flow rates ensure variability in the resident time for exposure of the solvent with the raw material, which can be optmized to achieve ideal extraction.

• CO₂ Recirculation & CO₂ Feeding-Recovery System: Equipment becomes more eco-friendly with this system. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas (GHG), but can act like one only if allowed to escape to the atmosphere.

By recovering carbon dioxide and re-circulating it in the equipment, possible pollution is nipped in the bud. Besides, by minimizing the amount of fresh gas that has to be fed in, the recirculation and recovery system slashes operational costs.

• Extractors: Two or three extractors are available with the Level 1 System. The volume of each extractor can be 5 litres or 10 litres and these can be deployed either singly or in series.

Multiple extractors in series can separate different ingredients at different pressure levels, if required. Two extractors in series means it is possible to double the capacity of the equipment without doubling the capex. Furthermore, series operation also boosts productivity.

• Certifications: Buffalo Extraction Systems has vast experience in customizing the equipment to the requirements of multiple certifications / standards in various parts of the world. All equipment that we manufacture confirms with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) of the relevant country or region.

• Co-Solvent Pump: Such pumps help add the co-solvent into the flowing sCO₂ in the required proportion. Even without a co-solvent, supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) has excellent capacity to dissolve non-polar compounds. Addition of co-solvents such as ethanol, water, and methanol boosts the ability of sCO₂ to dissolve polar compounds.

• Extractor Changeover Valves: Buffalo Extraction Systems’ proprietary changeover valves allow rapid changeovers even at high pressures. The changeovers are executed manually or automatically with the least possible interruptions.

Finally

By optimizing the operational range of various parameters, our Level 1 CO₂ SCFE system becomes a useful piece of equipment for extraction of target molecules on a small scale.

Buffalo Extraction Systems harnesses the immense capabilities of the Carbon dioxide Supercritical Fluid Extraction process, and incorporates innovation into it for the best possible results.

Contact us at info@buffaloextracts.com for a seamless extraction experience.

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