Study of candeia oil extraction using pressurized fluids and purification by adsorption process

•Candeia oil extraction using compressed CO2 and propane as solvent was studied.•Extraction followed by adsorption separation process was evaluated.•A mathematical modeling was conducted by means of the Sovavá model.•Higher extraction yield was obtained using CO2 as solvent.•Highest α-bisabolol content was obtained using propane as solvent and silica gel as adsorbent.

The extraction of oil from wood Candeia (Eremanthus erythropappus) was evaluated using CO2 and propane as solvents. Experiments were carried out under the following conditions: T = 40 °C, P = 200 bar, T = 60 °C, P = 120 bar, T = 50 °C, P = 200 bar and T = 60 °C, P = 245 bar for carbon dioxide, yield was from 0.30 to 0.72. For propane, the temperature conditions studied were 30, 55 and 80 °C and pressures of 80, 100 and 120 bar, the yield was from 0.44 to 0.59. The α-bisabolol content of oil was evaluated and it was found that the operating conditions of extractions interfere in your concentration. The purification of the candeia oil was evaluated by the combined extraction and adsorption in fixed bed column using silica gel and alumina as the adsorbents. The separation was more efficient when used silica gel as adsorbent.

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