Modelling the supercritical CO2 extraction kinetics of soybean oil

Different empirical models were used to describe the supercritical CO2 extraction of soybean oil obtained at series of operational parameters namely pressure, temperature, solvent flow rate and characteristic particle size. Process yields obtained by supercritical CO2 were up to 19.33%. Several kinetic models: Brunner, Kandiah and Spiro, Tan and Liou, Martinez et al. and Esquivel et al. were used to test the experimental yield data. All models were analysed using nonlinear regression method. Also a new model, modified Esquivel et al., was proposed and analysed using nonlinear regression method as well. According to the obtained results for extraction yield of soybean oil, the modified Esquivel et al. model show the best agreement between experimental and model calculated data.