PROCESS OPTIMIZATION FOR CLEAN MANUFACTURING - SUPERCRITICAL-FLUID EXTRACTION FOR B-CAROTENE PRODUCTION

The relatively high cost of Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) proce sses has been a major obstacle in the widespread use of the technology . In this work, it is demonstrated that this cost can be reduced signi ficantly by applying the mathematical programming approach and formula ting the problem of designing these processes as a Mixed Integer Nonli near Programming (MINLP) model. Application of the model to the isolat ion of beta-carotene from algal cells has shown that SFE can easily ou tperform traditional organic-solvent-based extraction processes. Final ly, a new heuristic is proposed to assist in the design of SFE process es which involve poorly soluble natural products.