Extraction of rotenoids from Derris elliptica using supercritical CO2

BACKGROUND Supercritical (SC)-CO2 extraction of rotenoids from Derris elliptica roots was proposed using fractional separation of the extracts and operating at increasing pressure. RESULTS CONCLUSION The best processing conditions were found at 200 bar, 40 degrees C and 1.2 kg h(-1) SC-CO2 flow rate, obtaining a final product with a concentration of 93% w/w of rotenone and rotenoids, and a yield of active principles of 6.70% w/w with respect to the vegetable matrix. Very small quantities of waxes were found, up to 0.05% w/w; this result can be explained considering the reduced surface-to-volume ratio of this vegetable material. Extraction kinetics data confirmed that, in this case, the extraction process was controlled by solubility limitation of the active compounds in the supercritical solvent. (c) 2018 Society of Chemical Industry