Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Essential Oil from Origanum Vulgare L.: Experiments and Mathematical Modeling

In this work, the supercritical CO₂ extraction of essential oil from Origanum Vulgare L. was investigated and modeled. An orthogonal test and ANOVA indicated that extraction pressure, extraction temperature, and extraction time had significant influence on extraction effects. Based on experiments, a mathematical model depended on mass conservation equation was established to describe and simulate supercritical CO₂ extraction of essential oil from Origanum Vulgare L. The mean diameter, accumulation properties, and the inside and outside transfer properties of extracted material particles were considered in the model. The model was solved numerically with the finite difference method and Runge-Kutta method synthetically. Model estimation was validated with small scale experimental data. Moreover, the effects of extraction pressure, extraction temperature, extraction time, concentration, and the flow rate of the entrainer on mass of essential oil were investigated using the model.