CO2 Extraction
High-pressure technology for CO2 extraction
and other CO2 applications
Supercritical or liquid carbon dioxide can be used as a solvent in various applications. CO2 extraction is used in the chemical industry and the pharmaceutical or food industry for different cleaning and extraction processes.
To generate and supply liquid carbon dioxide high pressure is necessary. Specifically developed and specially designed plunger pumps safely supply the extraction systems with liquid CO2 at pressures of up to 1000 bar. URACA finds the best solution for your application.
Our services for your benefit
- large product portfolio of pump technology available
- more than 50 years of experience in this field
- pumps designed for the pumping of liquified gas
- application-specific details such as cooling channels in the liquid end
- solutions for small and large plants
- pump technology suitable for continuous operation
- customized solutions with high efficiency
- many years of spare parts supply guaranteed
Diverse applications of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is used in numerous processes in the chemical and cosmetic industries as well as in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Common applications are extraction or purification processes. Here, the CO2 acts as a supercritical solvent, for example, for the extraction of natural substances.
Other possible uses include use as a refrigerant, as a protective gas during welding or as an aid in confectioning processes. Carbon dioxide has a large volumetric cooling capacity and is much more environmentally friendly compared to other refrigerants. CO2 is a raw material for many chemical syntheses. The disposal and storage of CO2 is increasingly important for the energy industry.
Process and advantages of CO2-Extraction
Supercritical carbon dioxide is liquid and has special properties that are intermediate between liquid and gas. It has the density of a liquid and the viscosity of gas. It can be used very well as a solvent. The density is adjustable over a wide range. A higher density improves the solubility of many substances.
By supplying the critical carbon dioxide, the desired substances dissolve. It penetrates very well into other substances and is suitable as an extraction or distraction agent. In order to feed liquid CO2 into the process of high-pressure extraction, pumps are necessary which are suitable for the critical temperature and the critical pressure of carbon dioxide.
Oscillating displacement pumps designed and engineered specifically for the extraction of critical carbon dioxide meet the requirements. They work at pressures of up to 1,000 bar and handle high mass flows.
CO2 extraction offers numerous advantages over other chemical extraction processes. The most important are:
- no use of toxic solvents
- no organic solvents necessary
- CO2 disappears after the extraction process by evaporation almost without residue
- no costs for the disposal of chemical solvents
- various uses for natural product extraction and extraction of flavors, fats, oils, waxes, polymers, enzymes or dyes
Requirements for high-pressure solutions for CO2 extraction
The extraction of liquid carbon dioxide under high pressure places special demands on the pump technology. Wetted parts in liquid end of the pump are optimized for this purpose. The arising compression heat is dissipated by cooling channels in the stuffing box barrel as well as in the valve block.
Flexible plunger coupling will keep the alignment between liquid and power end in an optimal range. Stuffing boxes are equipped with flushing ports to remove debris, to lubricate and to cool down the stuffing box internals.
