Compositional and Antioxidant Activity Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zanthoxylum bungeanum</Emphasis> Seed Oil Obtained by Supercritical CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Fluid Extraction

Supercritical CO₂ fluid extraction (SFE-CO₂) of Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Z. bungeanum) seed oil was investigated. To optimize the SFE process, three-level Box-Behnken factorial design and response surface methodology (RSM) were applied to optimize the extraction conditions, including pressure, temperature and amount of modifier. The optimum conditions were as follows: extraction pressure, 29.28 MPa; extraction temperature, 41.19 °C; and the added amount of modifier, 10.94%. The experimental results showed that the maximum extraction yield was 21.85 ± 0.23% (n = 3) under the proposed conditions. The compositional analysis of Z. bungeanum seed oil was performed by HPLC-FLD-MS using a new labeling reagent of 2-(11H-benzo[a]carbazol-11-yl)-ethyl-4-methyl benzenesulfonate (BCETS). The results indicated that the Z. bungeanum seed oil contained mainly unsaturated fatty acids, including C18:3, C22:6, C20:4, C18:2, C18:1 and C20:1, which accounted for 84.0% (mass percentage) of the total amount. The antioxidant activity of seed oil obtained by Box-Behnken design concerning the DPPH radical was investigated, and this indicated that the pressure and the amount of added modifier had positive effects on the antioxidant activity, but the effect of the temperature elevation is complicated, depending on the nature of the extracted contents.     

Distribution and Antioxidant Activities of Free,Conjugated, and Insoluble-Bound Phenolics from Seven Species of the Genus Camellia

Free phenolic (FP), conjugated phenolic (CP), and insoluble-bound phenolic (IBP) acids were extracted from the seeds of seven species of oil-tea camellia and their antioxidant activities were evaluated. The results indicated that Camellia vietnamensis has the highest total phenolic content (TPC) (31.84 ± 0.11 g of gallic acid equivalent [GAE] kg⁻¹) and that Camellia polyodontia has the lowest TPC (12.34 ± 0.22 g GAE kg⁻¹) in the kernel. The average TPC among the species is similar in both the kernels and in the shells, and the content order of the three forms of phenolic compounds is FP > IBP > CP. HPLC-MS analysis showed the presence of 9–11 phenolic compounds in the FP, CP, or IBP extracts of the seven species of oil-tea camellia seed. Among the phenolics identified, ferulic acid, catechin, and epicatechin were the major contributors of antioxidant activity. Hierarchical cluster analysis conducted based on the phenolic properties showed that C. vietnamensis and Camellia semiserrata belong to the group characterized by high antioxidant capacities (FRAP, ferric-ion-reducing antioxidant power; ABTS assay), and Camellia chekiangoleosa and Camellia oleifera are arranged in a group with moderate phenolic properties. The other species constitute the third cluster with low phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The study demonstrated that oil-tea camellia seed contains significant amounts of phenolic acids. In addition, extracts from various parts of the seed could be interesting novel sources of natural antioxidants.     

Extraction of Total Phenolics of Sour Cherry Pomace by High Pressure Solvent and Subcritical Fluid and Determination of the Antioxidant Activities of the Extracts

Abstract

High pressure liquid extraction (HPE) and subcritical fluid (CO₂+ethanol) extraction (SCE) were used for the extraction of total phenolic compounds (TPC) from sour cherry pomace. Antiradical efficiency (AE) of the extracts was also determined. Ethanol was the solvent for HPE and co‐solvent for SCE. Combinations of pressure (50, 125, 200 MPa), temperature (20, 40, 60°C), solid/solvent ratio (0.05, 0.15, 0.25 g/ml) and extraction time (10, 25, 40 min) were variables for HPE according to the Box‐Behnken experimental design. The variables used for SCE were pressure (20, 40, 60 MPa), temperature (40, 50, 60°C), ethanol concentration (14, 17, 20 wt%) and extraction time (10, 25, 40 min). For HPE, TPC, and AE at the optimum conditions (176–193 MPa, 60°C, 0.06–0.07 g solid/ml solvent, 25 min) were found as 3.80 mg gae/g sample and 22 mg DPPH^?/g sample, respectively. TPC and AE at the optimum conditions (54.8–59 MPa, 50.6–54.4°C, 20 wt% ethanol, 40 min) for SCE were determined as 0.60 mg gae/g sample and 2.30 mg DPPH^?/g sample for sour cherry pomace, respectively.     

Supercritical extraction of evening primrose oil: Experimental optimization via response surface methodology

Supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) effective extraction parameters (pressure, temperature, static extraction time, and dynamic extraction time) of oil recovery from evening primrose seeds were optimized via response surface methodology (RSM). The results of this study indicated that the linear terms of static and dynamic time and the quadratics of temperature and pressure, as well as the interactions of temperature and static time, pressure and temperature had a significant effect on the oil recovery. The optimum extraction conditions of 14.2 MPa, 47.3°C, 30 min (static extraction time) and 150 min (dynamic extraction time) were obtained. Applying the optimum conditions, a mean experimental recovery of 92.98% (triplicate experiment) was achieved, which is well compatible with the RSM‐predicted value (93.61%). The fatty acid composition of extracted evening primrose oil using supercritical CO₂ was compared with that obtained by Soxhlet method in which minor difference was observed. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011     

Kariya (Hildegardia barteri) seed oil extraction: comparative evaluation of solvents,modeling, and optimization techniques

In this work, the effects of solid/solvent ratio (0.10–0.25?g/ml), extraction time (3–8?h), and solvent type (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and acetone) together with their shared interactions on Kariya seed oil (KSO) yield were investigated. The oil extraction process was modeled via response surface methodology (RSM), artificial neural network (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) while the optimization of the three input variables essential to the oil extraction process was carried out by genetic algorithm (GA) and RSM methods. The low mean relative percent deviation (MRPD) of 0.94–4.69% and high coefficient of determination (R²) > 0.98 for the models developed demonstrate that they describe the solvent extraction process with high accuracy in this order: ANFIS, ANN, and RSM. The best operating condition (solid/solvent ratio of 0.1?g/ml, extraction time of 8?h, and acetone as solvent of extraction) that gave the highest KSO yield (32.52?wt.%) was obtained using GA-ANFIS and GA-ANN. Solvent extraction efficiency evaluation showed that ethyl acetate, n-hexane, and acetone gave maximum experimental oil yields of 19.20?±?0.28, 25.11?±?0.01, and 32.33?±?0.04?wt.%, respectively. Properties of the KSO varied based on the type of solvent used. The results of this work showed that KSO could function as raw material in both food and chemical industries.     

The Fatty Acid Profile and Phenolic Composition of Descurainia sophia Seeds Extracted by Supercritical CO2

Oil and phenolics were extracted from Descurainia sophia (Sophia) seeds by a supercritical CO₂ system. Extractions were conducted in two sequential steps, first using 100 % CO₂ and then adding 10 % ethanol as co‐solvent. The extracts were collected in each step using two separate collectors operating at different pressures. The extraction run was 3 and 4 h for the first period, and 2 h for the second period. The majority of the oil was collected in the first extraction period while phenolic compounds were obtained in the second extraction period. A combined mode of static/dynamic extraction (3 h running and 1 h soaking in CO₂) was also used in the first extraction period, which enhanced the total extraction yield (29.3 ± 0.5 %) and was comparable to the 4 h extraction yield (31.4 ± 0.1 %). The total fatty acid (FA) content of oil in collector 1 (0.94 g) was nearly twice that in collector 2 (0.60 g). The oil contained 14 FAs with α‐linolenic being predominant (48.5 %), with a total 91.1 % unsaturated FAs, a ω3/ω6 ratio of 2.7, and an erucic acid content of 6.2 %. More than 10 phenolic compounds were detected by HPLC in the Sophia seed extracts of which sinapic acid was the dominant compound. Sophia seed extracts showed high levels of antioxidant activity. These results suggest that Sophia seed oil and phenolics have the potential for functional food and pharmaceutical applications.     

Antioxidant capacity of rapeseed meal and rapeseed oils enriched with meal extract

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the quantitative effects of two independent variables: solvent polarity and temperature of the extraction process on the antioxidant capacity (AC) and total phenolics content (TPC) in meal rapeseed extracts. The mean AC and TPC results for meal ranged between 1181–9974 µmol TE/100 g and 73.8–814 mg sinapic acid/100 g of meal. The experimental results of AC and TPC were close to the predicted values calculated from the polynomial response surface models equations (R² = 0.9758 and 0.9603, respectively). The effect of solvent polarity on AC and TPC in the examined extracts was about 3.6 and 2.6 times greater, respectively, than the effect of processing temperature. The predicted optimum solvent polarity of ε = 78.3 and 63.8, and temperature of 89.4 and 74.2°C resulted in an AC of 10 014 µmol TE/100 g and TPC of 863 mg SAE/100 g meal, respectively. The phenolic profile of rapeseed meal was determined by an HPLC method. The main phenolics in rapeseed meal were sinapine and sinapic acid. Refined rapeseed oils were fortified with an extract – rich in polyphenols – obtained from rapeseed meal. The supplemented rapeseed oil had higher AC and TPC than the refined oil without addition of meal extracts. However, AC and TPC in the enriched oils decreased during storage. The TPC in the studied meal extracts and rapeseed oils correlated significantly (p<0.0000001) positively with their AC (R² = 0.9387). Practical applications: Many bioactive compounds extracted from rapeseed meal provide health benefits and have antioxidative properties. Therefore, it seems worth to consider the application of antioxidants extracted from the rapeseed meal for the production of rapeseed oils with potent AC. Moreover, antioxidants extracted from the rapeseed meal were added to refined rapeseed oil in order to enhance its AC. AC was then tested by FRAP assay. FRAP method is based on the reduction of the ferric tripyridyltriazine (Fe³⁺‐TPTZ) complex to the ferrous tripyridyltriazine (Fe²⁺‐TPTZ), and it is simple, fast, low cost, and robust method. FRAP method does not require specialized equipment and can be performed using automated, semi‐automatic, or manual methods. Therefore the proposed FRAP method can be employed by the fat industry laboratories to asses the AC of rapeseed oils and meal.     

Supercritical CO2 Extraction Optimization of Onion Oil Using Response Surface Methodology

Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the conditions of supercritical CO₂ extraction of the oil from freeze‐dried onion powder. The effects of pressure, temperature and extraction time on the yield of oil were investigated. The maximum extraction yield of 4.69 ± 0.04 g/kg dry basis was achieved at a pressure of 20.6 MPa, a temperature of 40.6 °C, a time of 260 min, a CO₂ flow rate of 22 L h^–1, and an entrainer ratio of 0.1 mL absolute ethanol per gram dry basis. The chemical composition of the oil was analyzed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The most representative compounds of the essential oil were organosulfur‐containing compounds and, among these, the main constituents were methyl 5‐methylfuryl sulfide (18.30 %), methyl 3,4‐dimethyl‐2‐thienyl disulfide (11.75 %) and 1‐propenyl propyl disulfide (9.72 %).     

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Single Cell Oil from Mortierella isabellina

In this paper, ultrasound-assisted extraction of single cell oil (SCO) from Mortierella isabellina (MI) was investigated using mathematical statistics, such as Plackett–Burman (PB) design, steepest ascent (SA) design, and Box–Behnken (BB) design. The results from response surface methodology (RSM) indicated the hydrochloric acid concentration, ultrasound time, ultrasound temperature, and extraction time are the most significant parameters. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: ultrasound power 300 W, ultrasound time 12.20 min, ultrasound temperature 53.42°c, hydrochloric acid 30 mmol in each gram of wet fungal mycelia, extraction time 19.45 min, extraction solvent (CH₃Cl-CH₃OH) ratio 2:1. Under the conditions, the extraction rate of SCO from MI was up to 90.63 ± 1.35%, and the yield of SCO was 109.88 ± 0.02 mg/g (P < 0.05) that was 1.23-fold and 1.35-fold the yield of acid-heating method and ultrasound method, respectively.     

Characterization and Benzo[a]pyrene Content Analysis of Camellia Seed Oil Extracted by a Novel Subcritical Fluid Extraction

A novel continuous subcritical n‐butane extraction technique for Camellia seed oil was explored. The fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties, and benzo[a]pyrene content of Camellia seed oil extracted using this subcritical technique were analyzed. Orthogonal experiment design (L₉(3⁴)) was adopted to optimize extraction conditions. At a temperature of 45 °C, a pressure of 0.5 MPa, a time of 50 min and a bulk density of 0.7 kg/L, an extraction yield of 99.12 ± 0.20 % was obtained. The major components of Camellia seed oil are oleic acid (73.12 ± 0.40 %), palmitic acid (10.38 ± 0.05 %), and linoleic acid (9.15 ± 0.03 %). Unsaturated fatty acids represent 83.78 ± 0.03 % of the total fatty acids present. Eight physicochemical indexes were assayed, namely, iodine value (83.00 ± 0.21 g I/100 g), saponification value (154.81 ± 2.00 mg KOH/g), freezing‐point (?8.00 ± 0.10 °C), unsaponifiable matter (5.00 ± 0.40 g/kg), smoke point (215.00 ± 1.00 °C), acid value (1.24 ± 0.03 mg KOH/g), refrigeration test (transparent, at 0 °C for 5.5 h), and refractive index (1.46 ± 0.06, at 25 °C). Benzo[a]pyrene was not detected in Camellia seed oil extracted by continuous subcritical n‐butane extraction. In comparison, the benzo[a]pyrene levels of crude Camellia seed oil extracted by hot press extraction and refined Camellia seed oil were measured at 26.55 ± 0.70 and 5.69 ± 0.04 μg/kg respectively.     

Ethanol-Modified Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of the Bioactive Lipid Components of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Camelina sativa</Emphasis> Seed

Camelina sativa seed is an underutilized oil source that attracts a growing interest, but it requires more research on its composition and processing. Its high omega‐3 content and growing demand for clean food processing technologies make conventional oil extraction less attractive. In this study, the effect of extraction methods on the bioactive lipid composition of the camelina seed lipid was investigated, and its bioactive lipid composition was modified at the extraction stage using ethanol‐modified supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO₂). Ethanol‐modified SC‐CO₂ extractions were carried out at varying temperatures (50 and 70 °C), pressures (35 and 45 MPa), and ethanol concentrations (0–10%, w/w), and were compared to SC‐CO₂, cold press, and hexane extraction. The highest total lipid yield (37.6%) was at 45 MPa/70 °C/10% (w/w) ethanol. Phospholipids and phenolic content increased significantly with ethanol‐modified SC‐CO₂ (p < 0.05). SC‐CO₂ with 10% (w/w) ethanol concentration selectively increased phosphatidylcholine (PC) content. Apparent solubility of camelina seed lipids in SC‐CO₂, determined using the Chrastil model, ranged from 0.0065 kg oil/kg CO₂ (35 MPa/50 °C) to 0.0133 kg oil/kg CO₂ (45 MPa/70 °C). Ethanol‐modified SC‐CO₂ extraction allowed modification of the lipid composition that was not possible with the conventional extraction methods. This is a promising green method for extraction and fractionation of camelina seed lipids to separate and enrich its bioactives.     

Extraction of rice brain oil using supercritical carbon dioxide and propane

Extraction of rice bran lipids was performed using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC−CO₂) and liquid propane. To provide a basis for extraction efficiency, accelerated solvent extraction with hexane was performed at 100°C and 10.34 MPa. Extraction pressure was varied for propane and SC−CO₂ extractions. Also, the role of temperature in SC−CO₂ extraction efficiency was investigated at 45,65, and 85°C. For the SC−CO₂ experiments, extraction efficiencies were proportional to pressure and inversely proportional to temperature, and the maximal yield of oil achieved using SC−CO₂ was 0.222±0.013 kg of oil extracted per kg of rice bran for conditions of 45°C and 35 MPa. The maximal yield achieved with propane was 0.224±0.016 kg of oil per kg of rice bran at 0.76 MPa and ambient temperature. The maximum extraction efficiencies of both SC−CO₂ and propane were found to be significantly different from the hexane extraction baseline yield, which was 0.261±0.005 kg oil extracted per kg of rice bran. A simulated economic analysis was performed on the possibility of using SC−CO₂ and propane extraction technologies to remove oil from rice bran generated in Mississippi. Although the economic analysis was based on the maximal extraction efficiency for each technology, neither process resulted in a positive rate of return on investment.     

Particle size effects on supercritical CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> extraction of oil-containing seeds

Rosehip seeds were milled, sieved, and extracted with 26.3 g/g substrate/h of supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) at 40°C and 300 bar. The extraction kinetics were characterized by an initial solubility-controlled period (8.78 g oil/kg CO₂ at 40°C and 300 bar), followed by a transition period to a final mass transfer-controlled process. The integral yield of oil approached an asymptotic value that was dependent on the particle size of the substrate: 57.1 g oil/kg dry oil-free substrate (large particles), 171.0 g/kg (medium-size particles), or 391.5 g/kg (small particles). Based on gravimetric determinations and microscopic analysis, our size-classification process segregated seed parts having different oil contents. Particles ≥0.85 mm were mainly composed of tough, lignified testa fragments devoid of oil, whereas particles ≤0.425 mm contained mostly brittle, oil-rich germ fragments. The segregation of seed in fractions with different oil contents may be a common occurrence in supercritical extraction experiments, especially for seeds with thick and/or hard testa and small germ, whose fractions can be separated by sieving.     

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Seed Oil Obtained by Supercritical CO2 Extraction

Supercritical CO₂ extraction (SC-CO₂) of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed oil and its chemical composition and antioxidant activity were investigated. A central composite design combined with response surface methodology was used to study extraction conditions including pressure, temperature, and time. The optimum extraction conditions were 28.5?MPa extraction pressure, 41?°C extraction temperature, and 118?min extraction time, where 3.78?% yield was predicted. Fenugreek seed oil extracted under optimum conditions by SC-CO₂ was mainly composed of 28.3?% C18:3, 33.45?% C18:2, 9.89?% C16, 8.1?% C18:1, 3.7?% C18, 0.71?% C20, and 0.61?% C22. The fenugreek oil was rich in unsaturated fatty acids (nearly 70?% of the total fatty acids), and polyunsaturated fatty acids accounted for 61.42?% (mass percentage) of the total amount. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity increased from 12.5 to 88.4?% when the concentration was increased from 1 to 12?mg/ml. The reducing power of the seed oil was concentration-dependent. The antioxidant activity of the supercritical fluid extraction extract was superior to those obtained by Soxhlet extraction.     

Carbon dioxide extraction of canola seed: Oil solubility and effect of seed treatment

The extraction of oil from fixed beds of canola seed (Brassica napus) was studied using carbon dioxide at temperatures and pressures ranging from 25 to 90°C and 10 to 36 MPa, respectively. The oil solubility in CO₂ was found to be strongly dependent on CO₂ pressure and weakly dependent on the system temperature. The highest observed oil solubility was 11 mg/g CO₂ and occurred at 36 MPa and 55°C. The manner in which different methods of seed pretreatment (flaking, cooking, pressure rupturing, chopping and crushing) affected the extraction process also was studied. The total amount of oil recovered from the seeds by CO₂ extraction was found to be strongly dependent on the pretreatment. No measurable quantity of oil chould be recovered from whole, intact seeds. The amount of oil extractable from flaked and cooked seeds was comparable to that recoverable by conventional hexane extraction.     

SOLUBILITY OF HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES L. SEED OIL IN SC CO2 AND SCFE PROCESS ENHANCEMENT BY ULTRASOUND

Dynamic method was applied to measure the solubility of oil from Hippophae rhamnoides L. seed in supercritical CO₂. The experiments were carried out at pressures and temperatures ranging from 10 to 30 MPa and 303 to 323 K, respectively. No marked changes in composition of extracted oil in the course of extraction were observed. The solubility was correlated with CO₂ density and temperature by adjusting the constants of the del Valle-Aguilera equation. In order to enhance the extraction efficiency of supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) for natural products, the SCFE process coupled with power ultrasound (20 kHz, 150 W) was investigated. The reactor with a power ultrasound transducer was specially designed and set up. For Hippophae rhamnoides L. seed oil, soybean seed oil, and licorice root oil extraction, the extraction rate and the oil yield were increased by 16.9–33.2% and 30% respectively, with the coupling of SCFE and power ultrasound.     

Optimization and modeling for heat reflux extraction of total yield,stevioside and rebaudioside-A from Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) leaves

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) leaves consist of stevioside and rebaudioside-A (Reb-A). This research sought to improve extraction of target steviol glycosides from stevia leaf powder using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural networking (ANN) under these independent variables: ethanol concentration, X₁ (0–100%), extraction temperature, X₂ (55–75°C), and extraction time, X₃ (45–75 min). ANN outperformed as potential alternative to RSM in predicting optimum conditions. Maximum responses were obtained at 100% X₁, 55°C X₂, and 60 min X₃. Heat reflux extraction proved superior to maceration extraction in terms of higher extraction yields with reduced energy consumption and CO₂ emission.     

Extraction of phenolic compounds from spent blackberry pulp by enhanced-fluidity liquid extraction

This research describes an enhance-fluidity liquid extraction process for extracting total phenolic compounds (TPC) from spent blackberry pulp (SBP) using a modified solvent (CO₂–ethanol mixture). Effects of particle size (from 1,400 to 180 μm), pressure (150–300 bar), and cosolvent (ethanol)-to-solid ratio (64, 128, and 192 mL ethanol/32 g solid) on the extraction of TPC at 40°C were investigated. Experimental data was processed using the Sovova's model to obtain the solubility of TPC in the modified solvent. The Peng–Robinson equation of state was used to correlate the solubility of phenolic compounds at high pressures. Results indicated that particle sizes ranging from 600 to 850 μm and pressure of 300 bar allowed obtaining extracts with higher antioxidant activity (94.71% of inhibition) and TPC content (11.59 mg GA/g SBP). High pressure and the modified solvent increased the solubility up to 3.4 × 10⁻⁴ (mol fraction).     

A Comparative Study on Response Surface Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction Parameters to Obtain Portulaca Oleracea Seed Oil with Higher Bioactive Content and Antioxidant Activity Than Solvent Extraction

Portulaca oleracea (purslane) seed oil is a rich source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Extraction of the purslane seed oil while preserving its high nutritive quality has been a challenge since conventional solvent extraction has many adverse effects on bioactive content. This study aims the optimization of purslane seed oil supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) conditions and to compare purslane seed oils obtained with SFE and conventional solvent extraction in terms of oil yield, along with the purslane seed oil quality and bioactive content. For this purpose, the SFE process parameters (pressure, temperature, static time, and dynamic time) are optimized for oil yield, omega-6, omega-3, and antioxidant activity using response surface methodology (RSM). Optimum SFE pressure, temperature, static time, and dynamic time levels are determined as 350 bar, 50 °C, 20 min, and 90 min, respectively. Oil yield and physicochemical quality properties of conventional solvent extract and SFE samples are determined and compared. Consequently, samples obtained via SFE and solvent extraction have similar quality properties. Distinctly, SFE allows an extraction with 5.6% higher total phenolic compound (TPC) and 33% higher antioxidant activity than solvent extraction. Practical Applications: In the study, the extraction of purslane oil using supercritical fluid extraction is optimized with different approaches. At optimum conditions, purslane oil is extracted and all physicochemical properties and the process efficiency (yield) are compared with the solvent-extracted samples. The results of this study make supercritical fluid extraction of purslane seed oil possible since all optimum operating conditions of a pilot-sized extractor are reported in the study. It is believed that the results provide a good starting point for industrial operations. Moreover, researchers also believe that research studies unveiling the new potential oil-bearing seeds are important to overcome the vegetable oil shortage that emerged this year.     

Supercritical fluid extraction in sunflower seed technology

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seed represents an important source for edible oil and its protein fraction is also recognised as valuable for human consumption when suitably purified from polyphenols, which negatively affect colour and nutritional value. On this basis, a main research has been developed, with the aim of testing the technical feasibility of a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process involving a preliminary supercritical CO₂ (SC‐CO₂) extraction of oil from sunflower de‐hulled seeds, followed by the removal of polyphenols from de‐fatted meal by means of ethanol coupled with SC‐CO₂. The paper reports the experimental protocol followed, together with the kinetics of the extractions, knowledge of which allows the optimisation of working parameters and the determination of process yields.