Prediction of Beta-Carotene Solubility At Supercritical Conditions Using Regular Solutions Theory

The objective of this paper is to model the extraction of carotenoid with supercritical carbon dioxideas the solvent used. experimental data for the high pres sure vapor-liquid phase equilibrium of the binary systemcarbon dioxide-carotenoid are reviewed for the elevated temperature 313.15, 323 .15, 333.15 k and pressure upto 500 bar. the experimental data were correlated and modeled using redlich-kwong equation of state andregular solution methods. the use of equation of state as an empirical correlation for collating and predictingliquid-liquid and liquid-dense fluid equilibria is discussed. it is concluded that the estimation of some of theparameters required for these calculations would be difficult if the solute (carotenoid) was a complex substanceabout which little was known apart from its structural formula. an alternative procedure is to apply activity coefficient expression of the regular solution theory type to each phase. calculations along these lines aredescribed and the physical basis for applying these methods under the relevant conditions discussed. theregular solution theory approach in particular has been found to be encouraging for the mutual miscibilitycalculations for heavy components (such as carotenoid) particularly substances sensitive to temperature,though the interaction parameters for the prediction activity coefficients must be regarded as pressuredependent.