Extraction of Rosehip Seed Oil Using Supercritical Fluids

Significance of the Topic

Rosehip seed oil is renowned for its high concentration of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins, making it a valuable ingredient in cosmetic and nutraceutical applications. Conventional solvent-based extraction methods, such as Soxhlet, are time-consuming, resource-intensive, and involve hazardous chemicals, driving interest in more sustainable and efficient techniques.

Objectives and Study Overview

The primary aim of this study is to assess supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2) extraction as an alternative to traditional solvent extraction for isolating oil from ground rosehip seeds. Key goals include reducing extraction time, eliminating toxic solvents, and achieving accuracy and precision comparable to established methods.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Ground rosehip seeds (13 g, ±0.1 mg) were loaded into a 24 mL extraction vessel, interspersed with inert Spe-ed Wool and Matrix plugs to ensure uniform packing. Supercritical CO2 (industrial grade) was used as the extraction fluid under the following conditions:

• Pressure: 10 000 psi
• Temperature: 70 °C (valve at 120 °C)
• Flow rate: 3 L/min (gas equivalent)
• Dynamic extraction time: 15 minutes
• Collection: 60 mL pre-weighed vial with Spe-ed Wool plug

After extraction, residual moisture was removed from the collected oil to constant weight following AOAC Method 926.12.

Used Instrumentation

• Applied Separations Spe-ed SFE Supercritical Extraction System
• Spe-ed Matrix and Spe-ed Wool packing materials (Cat. #7950 and #7953)
• Industrial-grade CO2 supply with dip tube

Results and Discussion

The SC CO2 extraction yielded oil quantities and purity levels comparable to those obtained by Soxhlet extraction, while reducing total processing time substantially. Precision and reproducibility met or exceeded reference method performance. The elimination of organic solvents minimized environmental impact and simplified post-extraction cleanup.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Solvent-free extraction eliminates chemical residues in the final product.
• Shorter extraction cycles enhance laboratory throughput and cost efficiency.
• Scalable technology suitable for both research labs and industrial production.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advancements may include process modeling and optimization, integration of fractionation steps to isolate specific bioactive fractions, and application of SC CO2 extraction to other botanical matrices. Continuous flow systems and hybrid approaches (e.g., co-solvent addition) could further improve yield and selectivity.

Conclusion

Supercritical CO2 extraction using the Spe-ed SFE system offers a rapid, reproducible, and eco-friendly alternative to solvent-based methods for recovering rosehip seed oil. The technique combines operational efficiency with high product quality, aligning with industry demands for sustainable processing.

References

1. Reverchon E; Kaziunas A; Marrone C (2000) Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Hiprose Seed Oil: Experiments and Mathematical Modeling. Chemical Engineering Science 55:2195–2201.