ANALYTICAL SUPERCRITICAL-FLUID EXTRACTION OF NATURAL-PRODUCTS

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is a rapid, selective and conveni ent method for sample preparation prior to the analysis of compounds i n natural product matrices. SFE is usually performed with pure or modi fied carbon dioxide, which facilitates off-line collection of extracts and on-line coupling with other analytical methods such as gas and su percritical fluid chromatography. A number of factors influence extrac tion yields, these being solubility of the solute in the fluid, diffus ion through the matrix and adsorption processes in the matrix. A wide range of applications is described for the extraction of carotenoids, lipids, flavour and fragrance compounds, steroids and triterpenes, alk aloids and mycotoxins.