Free Fatty Acids Extraction from Palm Oil Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide: A Phase Equilibrium Feasibility Approach

Abstract

This study uses co-solvent modified supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2) to represent saturated fatty acids from palm oil. Palm oil is high in saturated fatty acids. The goal of this research is to investigate the feasibility of phase equilibrium mutual solubility processes using supercritical carbon dioxide. One of the most essential components in studying the design of extraction processes governed by the equilibrium is understanding the phase equilibrium. The extraction temperatures were 313.15 and 353.15 K, while the applied pressure ranged from 60 to 180 bars. The activity coefficients expression for the system carbon dioxide / fatty acid was predicted using a thermodynamic model based on the Universal Functional Activity Coefficient (UNIFAC). Mass transfer modeling was used to determine factors such as adsorption, diffusion, mass transfer coefficient, solubility, and desorption.