Continuous supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions to produce nanocapsules of vitamin E in polycaprolactone

Abstract

Vitamin E in polycaprolactone nanoparticles was continuously produced by supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions using a high-pressure packing column in countercurrent mode. This operating mode reduces the amount of solvent required, increases production capacity and enables lower residual organic solvent concentrations in the raffinate. At 8.0MPa and 313K, with a packing height of 2m, and a solvent to feed ratio of 5kgL−1, the residual acetone concentration was 1400ppm, far below 5000ppm, and therefore suitable for pharmaceutical applications. The process was also simulated with Aspen Plus. It would be necessary to increase the packing height to 3.5m or the CO2 flow rate to 60gmin−1 in order to get a residual acetone concentration suitable for food applications (50ppm). The nanoparticles produced were non-aggregated spheres, which had an encapsulation efficiency higher than 70% and particle size at the nanoscale.