--- title: FAQs description: Even before testing supercritical fluid extraction on their products or raw materials, prospects frequently ask questions about costs and safety. image: http://d1n2i0nchws850.cloudfront.net/portals/105673/1ea7f9a1-6bc9-4359-a6b6-576bbad0d168-1315427306249/askusaquestion_bluesmall.png?v=1315427306.68 --- [![Phasex Robertet home logo](https://www.phasex4scf.com/hs-fs/hubfs/phasex-logo-home%20(1).png?width=218&name=phasex-logo-home%20(1).png "Phasex Robertet home logo")](https://www.phasex4scf.com/) [![Phasex Robertet home logo](https://www.phasex4scf.com/hs-fs/hubfs/phasex-logo-home%20(1).png?width=218&name=phasex-logo-home%20(1).png "Phasex Robertet home logo")](https://www.phasex4scf.com/) [**](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/faqs#) 1 ![featured image 1](http://d1n2i0nchws850.cloudfront.net/portals/105673/1ea7f9a1-6bc9-4359-a6b6-576bbad0d168-1315427306249/askusaquestion_bluesmall.png?v=1315427306.68) # FAQs By [Kara Williams](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/author/kara-williams) September 7, 2011 ### Posts by Topic - [CO2 extraction (9)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/co2-extraction) - [Supercritical Fluids (6)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-fluids) - [SCF CO2 Extraction Considered Green (2)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/scf-co2-extraction-considered-green) - [Supercritical CO2 Extraction Flavors (2)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-co2-extraction-flavors) - [Supercritical CO2 Peanut Oil Extraction (2)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-co2-peanut-oil-extraction) - [Ashwagandha CO2 Extraction (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/ashwagandha-co2-extraction) - [Ashwagandha Extraction (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/ashwagandha-extraction) - [Critical Point Drying for Aerogels (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/critical-point-drying-for-aerogels) - [Eco-Friendly Supercritical Fluid CO2 (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/eco-friendly-supercritical-fluid-co2) - [SCF for Impregnation, Dying, Coating (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/scf-for-impregnation-dying-coating) - [Supercritical CO2 Drying for Aerogels (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-co2-drying-for-aerogels) - [Supercritical CO2 Extraction Fragrances (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-co2-extraction-fragrances) - [Supercritical CO2 Extraction USDA Organic (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-co2-extraction-usda-organic) - [Supercritical CO2 for Coating (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-co2-for-coating) - [Supercritical CO2 for Dying (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-co2-for-dying) - [Supercritical Fluid Drying for Aerogels (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-fluid-drying-for-aerogels) - [Supercritical Fluids for Impregnation (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/supercritical-fluids-for-impregnation) - [kava (1)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/blog-supercritical-fluids/topic/kava) Search ***Even before testing supercritical fluid extraction on their products or raw materials, prospects frequently ask questions about costs and safety.*** **Q:  Is supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) expensive compared to other extraction ****methods?** **A:**  Today, commodity items such as coffee, hops, and spices are processed by SFE and are economically competitive with traditional organic solvent extraction.  Supercritical fluid extraction of nutraceuticals such as saw palmetto, antioxidants, and omega-3 concentrates can, in many instances, be even less expensive than traditional solvent extraction processes due to the elimination of solvent recovery steps. **Q:  Is SFE complex?** **A:**  Customarily SFE is simpler than traditional extraction processes: simplified clean-up and recovery of the SCF solvent, single-step extraction yielding often highly concentrated actives due to high selectivity of CO2, and elimination of solvent residues in the product. **Q:  Is high pressure operation hazardous?** **A:**  With proper standard operating procedures and abiding by ASME standards, working at high pressure is a safe operation.  Supercritical CO2 plants have been in operation in the US, Europe, and Asia since the late 1970s.  Additionally, CO2 is non-toxic and non-flammable, unlike many organic solvents. **Q:  ****Will CO2 emissions from SFE processes contribute to global warming?** **A:**  Industrial scale SFE does not generate any CO2.  The CO2 used for SFE is sourced from existing processes such as fermentation, and, thus, does not add emissions. **Q:  Is SFE equipment expensive?** **A:**  As in any commercial operation, equipment costs depend on many factors such as plant size and throughput, operating conditions, feed characteristics, markets, and selling price.  Case-by-case economic evaluations point out the commercial viability of products produced by SFE. **Q:**  **Will the SFE be too harsh on my material? ** **A:**  Extractions can be carried out at much lower temperatures as compared to other separation or purification methods, such as molecular distillation and wiped film evaporation.  CO2 extraction is often the preferred method for sensitive raw materials products.  ***[![askusaquestion_bluesmall](http://d1n2i0nchws850.cloudfront.net/portals/105673/1ea7f9a1-6bc9-4359-a6b6-576bbad0d168-1315427306249/askusaquestion_bluesmall.png?v=1315427306.68)](https://www.phasex4scf.com/ask-us-a-question-about-supercritical-fluid-technology) *** ### POPULAR POSTS ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - 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