Optimizing the process of supercritical extraction of lemon balm (Melissa Officinalis L.)

Abstract

This work investigates the process of extraction of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) by treatment with carbon dioxide at supercritical conditions. The process kinetics is studied at different operational conditions, and the influence of some important regime parameters (pressure, temperature particle size, solvent flow-rate) on the extraction yield is experimentally determined. Besides the information for process intensity at particular operational regimes, the results are useful for selection of favourable operational conditions for better extraction, i.e. for production of larger quantity of extracted substances from unit mass of raw material.