Criticality-related fundamental bases for new generations of gas-liquid, liquid-liquid, and liquid (LE) extraction technologies

TL;DR

This paper explores innovative extraction technologies using critical phenomena physics, highlighting new effects near critical points in supercritical fluids, liquids, and natural oils, with potential for improved efficiency and novel process links.

Contribution

It introduces the application of critical phenomena physics to new extraction methods, including effects of ultrasounds and long-range dielectric changes in natural oils.

Findings

Ultrasound causes a shift from supercritical to subcritical states.

Operating near the critical consolute point enhances process effectiveness.

Long-range dielectric changes in linseed oil occur above melting temperature.

Abstract

The report presents results that can be considered as the reference for innovative generations of Supercritical Fluids (SCF), Liquid-Liquid (LL), and Liquid (L) extraction technologies. They are related to implementations of Critical Phenomena Physics for such applications not considered so far. For the gas-liquid critical point, the shift from SuperCritical to SubCritical due to the additional exogenic impact of ultrasounds is indicated. For LL technology, the possibility of increasing process effectiveness when operating near the critical consolute point under pressure is indicated. Finally, the discovery of long-range precritical-type changes of dielectric constant in linseed oil, standing even 50K above the melting temperature, is presented. It suggests that the extraction process linking SCF and L features, and exploring natural carries such as linseed oil, is possible. The report recalls the fundamental base for the extraction process via Kirkwood and Noyes-Withney relations and presents their implementations to critical conditions, including pressure.