Supercritical CO2 extraction optimization of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed oil using response surface methodology

Abstract

Abstract This study examined extraction of pomegranate seed oil by using supercritical carbon dioxide. Response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effects of the process parameters, namely extraction pressure, temperature and CO2 flow rate on the yield of pomegranate seed oil. The extraction parameters were optimized with a central composite design experiment. The linear term of pressure, followed by the linear term of CO2 flow rate, the quadratic terms of pressure, temperature and CO2 flow rate and the interactions between pressure and temperature, as well as CO2 flow rate and temperature, had significant effects on the oil yield (p