Recent Advancements and Challenges in Supercritical Fluid Extraction Methods and Their Applications in Food Industries

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is a green extraction technology, which is looked as an alternative to chemical solvents in separation processes. SFE has been effectively used for the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant sources, and a number of commercial-scale units are now available. The extracts obtained from SFE are free from chemical residues and are utilized in food formulations. Apart from extraction, SFE also can be applied for the transformation of extracts into different forms using the concepts of particle formation and extrusion. The chapter attempts to summarize recent developments in SFE with emphasis on food industry applications in fruit and vegetables, spices and oleoresins, coffee and tea, marine, dairy microalgae and other applications of SFE with industrial potential.