Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Carotenoid-Rich Sea Buckthorn Oil

This study optimizes supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of carotenoid-rich sea buckthorn oil at a pilot plant in the Faculty of Food Science and Engineering. Key parameters were identified as 30 MPa pressure and 40 °C temperature, with an 82-minute extraction time. A two-stage process using an ethanol-water co-solvent increased total carotenoid yield by 11.63%, with beta-carotene rising 12.37%. Separation was performed using S40 (15 MPa, 40 °C) and S45 (5 MPa, 22 °C) separators. The process achieved a 10% gravimetric yield, demonstrating high efficiency for producing bioactive oils suitable for food, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. The project was funded by the European Union and shared via EU-FarmBook to support innovation and knowledge exchange under EIP-AGRI.