Supercritical CO2 extraction of mentha (Mentha piperita L.) at different solvent densities

Abstract

The chemical composition of mentha essential oil and mentha extracts obtained at different pressures/temperatures by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were studied by GC-MS. The menthol content was also determined spectrophotometrically. The predominant compounds in the essential oil and in the CO2 extract obtained at 100 bar were L-menthon and menthole but at higher pressures (from 150 to 400 bar), squalene was dominant. The equation of Naik et al. was used for modelling the mentha-supercritical CO2 system. 2009 Copyright (CC) SCS.