Supercritical fluid extraction of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed

In this study, suitable extraction conditions were investigated in order to obtain safflower seed oil by supercritical extraction. Different solvent flow rates (1, 2, 3 mL/min) were applied. Using 3 mL/min constant solvent flow rate, general full factorial design and response surface methods were used to optimize the extraction conditions. Pressure (30, 40, 50, 55, 60 MPa), temperature (323, 333, 337 K) and time (20, 40, 60, 70 min) were selected as extraction parameters and the optimum conditions were found as 333 K, 70 min, 50 MPa. At these conditions extraction yield was found as 36.90% on dry material base.Empirical and shrinking core models were chosen in order to model of mass transfer.