Studies on the physicochemical characteristics of volatile oil from pepper (Piper nigrum) extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide.

Pepper (Piper nigrum L) volatile oil was extracted with supercritical fluid
carbon dioxide at pressures of 8 and 10 MPa and at two different
temperatures, 40°C and 60°C. The mass transfer rates are presented at
different supercritical conditions of extraction, together with the
fractionation effect that was observed. The volatile oil obtained was analysed
for its physical constants: specific gravity, refractive index and optical
rotation. The samples were fractionated by column chromatography, and
both the samples and fractions were subjected to TLC, gas chromatography
and sensory analysis. It was observed that pepper oil obtained with
supercritical fluid carbon dioxide at 10 MPa and 60°C was superior to
steam-distilled oil.