Abstract
A transient and one-dimensional mathematical model with two partial differential equations is developed to simulate the extraction of de-oiled rosemary plant in a vertical fixed-bed reactor. The effect of the dimensionless numbers which appear in the final governing equations (Peclet and Damköhler numbers) is studied. The influence of solvent composition, solid particle size and temperature is also investigated. The process is controlled by internal diffusion effects, with the smallest particle size exhibiting the smallest internal diffusion coefficient. Among the different solvents, 80% ethanol shows the highest total phenolics recovery. The antiradical activity is also enhanced by increasing the temperature and the smaller particle size leads to an improvement in the extraction selectivity. Peclet number has a small effect on the results, while Damköhler number strongly affects the process. An increase in bed porosity causes a significant increase in the internal diffusion time.
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