The supercritical CO2, latest technology at the service of the consumer

The extraction of active principles is primarily used to provide that matter extracted with high added value (vitamins, essential oils, additives and flavourings) product or separate substances (caffeine, fatty, purify soils...). The costs and the quality of the final product will vary according to the technique used in the extraction process or in the case of purification (separation of substances of the product such as caffeine and fat, among others).

The technology based on supercritical fluids (substance found in certain conditions in a State with intermediate properties between liquid and gas) can be used in a multitude of basic operations, but has experienced a remarkable development as a means of reaction for the extraction and purification of substances of high value. This technique allows to CO2 in supercritical state, completely harmless gas which under conditions of temperature and pressure above its critical point becomes a very strong solvent, serve as effective separator element completely clean. Its main advantages lie in the easy separation of substances; the mild temperatures in the process of do no harm to the product; be a non-flammable, no corrosive, non-toxic, carcinogenic not; its selective capacity and the generation of waste.

It is a "much more clean and safe" option than conventional processes, allowing to preserve further the active principles and characteristics of substances. So far, in the majority of such processes is made use of organic solvents many of them toxic, with the consequent problems that this creates for the presence of residues in products or the generation of waste in the processwhich degenerates into problems for health and the environment.

Supercritical fluids are being used on an industrial scale mainly in agro-food, chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors. Among other applications, aimed at obtaining herbal extracts from aromatic plants, extracts of spices for food coloring and essential oils; the fractionation of drinks for the dealcoholization, improvement of properties of foods (scouring food, extraction of cholesterol in oils, meat and dairy), the Decaffeination of coffee, the recovery of the nicotine from tobacco, the extraction of active ingredients, disinfection operationsimpregnation, microencapsulación, the fractionation of heavy petroleum products, decontamination of wastewaters and degreasing of skins, among others.

It is, therefore, leading with great potential technology, which is a new way for obtaining products of natural origin; It allows the adaptation of new quality products with high value appropriate to the habits of consumption; It enables the development of new non-polluting processes and initiated the development of a tertiary sector directed towards the new technology.

Japan and USA are already incorporated in their national legislation rules that make direct or indirect reference to prohibitions on the use of certain organic solvents in the extraction and purification processes. This fact is already affecting significantly in those Spanish companies with exporting vocation towards these countries.

Despite its growing demand for and use in other countries such as USA or Japan, in Spain is still a technology largely unknown by the industry, and those companies that use hire these services in other countries, in the absence of technological offer in supercritical fluids in our country.

However, the Spanish industry in these sectors is making significant progress in this direction, on the one hand, increasingly are known more negative outcomes than certain conventional industrial processes, and on the other hand, are more aware of the need to respond to the current requirements of consumers and the law.

The Center technological Ainia has been working since 1993 in the research and application of supercritical fluids in the industry. The result of this work, has developed a proprietary technology applied to the extractive processes that places him in world benchmark in this field. The technology centre, through Altex, the company behind Exxentia and Monteloeder, inaugurated on 10 June the first plant extractive 100 percent Spanish, based on the use of CO2 in supercritical state. With the opening of this plant pioneer in our country, located in the Parque Tecnológico de Valencia, in Paterna, Altex offers "a response cost the food industry, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and chemical, through productive processes of extraction and purification versatile"", aimed at the development of high value products for regular use with positive properties for health".

With great potential for growth, the plant allows transferring this technology on an industrial scale in a multifunctional way, which will enable "a cost savings for Spanish companies" to hire this service within our borders, at the time that will facilitate them compliance with current legislation", which increasingly is tightening."

Ainia Technology Center is a private Association for non-profit purposes, at the national level, consisting of 1,100 companies in the agri-food sector and allied. Its mission is to actively participate in achieving business excellence through innovation, anticipating the demands of society and allowing to improve business competitiveness.