Extraction and modeling of lavender flower essential oil using supercritical carbon dioxide

Essential oil was extracted from lavender flowers (Lavandula Stoechas subsp ecies Cariensis Boiss) in a semicontinuous system by supercritical CO2. Exp eriments were carried out in the ranges of 8-14 MPa pressures, 308-323 K te mperatures, and 1.092-2.184 x 10(-3) kg/min carbon dioxide now rates. The e xtraction process was modeled by a quasi-steady-state model as a function o f extraction time, flow rate, pressure, and temperature. The model contains only one adjustable parameter, the intraparticle diffusion coefficient (ef fective diffusivity) D-e. The model using the best fit of D-e correlates th e data satisfactorily.