The production of oats lipids by supercritical fluid technologies

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop a method suitable for large-scale extraction of oats phospho- and glycolipids. Pilot scale extraction were performed by custom-made SFE-equipment (Chemature Ecoplanning) witch is well suited for research work that requires reliable apparatus with large operation range in both pressure and temperature. In supercritical state, extraction and separation of different compounds are carried out with changes in pressure and temperature of the medium (fluid). When oat flakes are processed with supercritical carbon dioxide (SFCO2), non-polar lipids are separated from oats. The modification of SFCO2 with alcohol changes the properties of fluid, and slightly polar lipid fractions are separated. By using the supercritical antisolvent technology (SAS), the precipitation of slightly polar lipids, e.g. phospho- and glycolipids, occurs. All these oats lipid fraction are pure and free of organic solvents and, thus, useful in food industry. SFCO2 showed to be effective in the extraction of fat from oat flakes. The initial oat flakes contains 8-12 % of fat. After extraction with pure CO2 the oat flakes contains less than 1 % fat. When 4 kg oat flakes was extracted first with pure CO2 and after that with CO2 modified with alcohol, and by using the SAS-technology to precipitation we can get 25-35g precipitated fractions.