[01] Ali Shahsavandi, Department of Chemical Engineering, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Sirjan, Iran; Department of Chemical Engineering, Sirjan branch, Islamic Azad University, Sirjan, Iran. [02] Farshad Farahbod, Department of Chemical Engineering, Firoozabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Firoozabad, Iran.

The focus of this research project was on the extraction of essence which is free from solvent residues with a process that is faster, more efficient and more environmentally friendly than existed extraction methods (solvent extraction, cold pressing and centrifugal separation). The objectives of the project were to test the viability of extracting camomile essence from dried camomile with sc-Co₂ by employing a laboratory-scale supercritical extractor; determine the composition of the extracted by means of a suitable analytical method; optimize the yield of extract by determining the optimum process conditions (temperature, pressure, time) with a statistical experimental design and surface response analysis and obtain a product which is free of harmful solvents and ready for human consumption without any subsequent refining, finally.

Co₂, Supercritical Fluid, Optimum Conditions, Extraction

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