Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum L.)

A pilot plant was designed and used to extract cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum L.) using supercritical carbon dioxide at 40°C and 100 bar. The extracts obtained were compared with cumin essential oil obtained by conventional steam distillation, using GC–MS. The analyses show that valuable components are extracted by the supercritical procedure, which would otherwise be thermally degraded by conventional steam distillation.