Supercritical CO2 extraction of carrot seed oil: screening, optimization and economic analysis

In this study, the extraction of carrot seed oil is carried out using supercritical CO2. Screening design was applied on operating parameters such as pressure, temperature, solvent flow rate, particle size and co-solvent to study the contribution of each parameter on extraction yield. Central composite design is employed on reduced parameters with operating ranges: 20-40 MPa (pressure), 50-70 degrees C (temperature), 5-15 g/min (solvent flow rate) and 0-10 wt% (co-solvent). Extraction yield is varied from 2.8 to 12.9 wt% of carrot seed. Experimental data are fitted well in the least-square regression model where optimized conditions are found as 40 MPa, 70 degrees C, 8.53 g/min and 5.87 wt% corresponding to the maximum yield of 13.5 wt%. Analysis of oil reveals the presence of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Principle fatty acid of carrot seed oil, i.e., oleic acid, is also optimized to maximize its extraction. The industrial-scale economic assessment is performed to study the feasibility of the supercritical fluid extraction of carrot seed oil.