Choosing a method

There is no single right method for a botanical ingredient. Cold pressing, steam distillation, solvent extraction and supercritical extraction give different results for different goals.

Cold pressing

Common and simple for seed oils; limited selectivity.

Steam distillation

Common for essential oils; can affect heat-sensitive compounds.

Solvent extraction

Can give high yields; the solvent must be removed and residues analysed.

Supercritical CO₂

Selectivity tunable by pressure and temperature; requires high-pressure equipment and investment.

Molecular distillation

Not an extraction but a next step: it fractionates the extract.

The choice starts from the target compound, the raw material, the regulations of the target product and the unit cost. These four are discussed together in the technical conversation.

Source: puritycall.com blog, “the superiority of supercritical CO2 extraction”, 17 December 2024; rewritten without the claims of absolute superiority.

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