Selective extraction of palm carotene and vitamin E from fresh palm-pressed mesocarp fiber (Elaeis guineensis) using supercritical CO2

Fresh palm-pressed mesocarp fiber was subjected to supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction at 40 °C to produce two fractions of fiber oil enriched with vitamin E and carotene, respectively. The extraction was carried out in three stages using continuous extraction technique; firstly to extract vitamin E and squalene enhanced fraction at 10 MPa, secondly to remove bulk triglycerides at 20 MPa and thirdly to produce carotene enriched fraction at 30 MPa. Squalene was being selectively extracted at 10 MPa into vitamin E enriched fraction. Sterols were distributed throughout the extractions with two times enhancement in the latter fractions. The recoveries of carotene, vitamin E, sterols and squalene were more than 90%. The continuous SC-CO2 extraction technique has been demonstrated for selective concentration of palm minor components, especially to separate vitamin E and squalene from carotene.