Coffee Butter Extraction From Spent Grounds Using Supercritical CO2
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting lipids from spent coffee grounds yield low-quality, dark-colored, and smelly liquid oils, and delipidated coffee powders of low commercial value, failing to produce pure solid coffee butters suitable for high-value cosmetic and therapeutic applications.
Innovation Solution
A supercritical fluid extraction process using CO2 at specific parameters (200-300 bar, 35-70°C, 10-50 kg/h flowrate, and 20-60 kg CO2/kg solvent-to-feed ratio) is applied to dry spent coffee grounds of industrial origin, followed by micronization, to obtain a solid lipidic extract with improved color, smell, and therapeutic properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional extraction methods (screw pressing, organic solvent extraction, enzymatic assisted extraction, or super-critical extraction) are used to extract lipids from spent coffee grounds, then lipid extraction is achieved, but the extracted lipid fractions are dark colored, smelly, and liquid with low quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling extraction pressure (70-300 bar), temperature (35-70°C), and CO2 flow rate (10-50 kg/h) to transform the physical state of the extracted lipid from liquid to solid form, while simultaneously improving color and odor characteristics. This resolves the contradiction by modifying extraction parameters to achieve both adequate yield and high quality solid butter suitable for cosmetic applications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions of CO2 from supercritical to gaseous state during and after extraction, enabling the lipid to precipitate as solid butter rather than remaining as liquid oil. The controlled depressurization causes CO2 to revert to gas, leaving behind solid coffee butter with improved properties, thus resolving the liquid vs solid quality contradiction
2Quantity of substance
If conventional extraction processes are used, then lipid removal from spent coffee grounds is achieved, but the delipidated coffee powders obtained are of low commercial value because they still contain relatively large amounts of lipids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical or chemical extraction systems with supercritical fluid extraction using CO2. This substitution enables more complete lipid removal with higher purity delipidated powder, as CO2 selectively extracts lipids without leaving residual solvents, thereby resolving the contradiction between lipid removal efficiency and powder purity
Solution Approach 2:
The use of CO2 as an inert supercritical fluid creates a clean extraction environment that removes lipids efficiently without contaminating the delipidated powder. The inert nature of CO2 ensures high purity coffee powder suitable for food and cosmetic applications, resolving the purity contradiction
3Quantity of substance
If current extraction processes are used, then lipid extraction is achieved, but no processes lead to the obtention of high value, high quality pure solid butters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves solid butter formation by optimizing extraction parameters: pressure (70-300 bar), temperature (35-70°C), and CO2 flow rate (10-50 kg/h). These parameter changes control the phase behavior and crystallization of extracted lipids, producing solid butter with high purity and quality suitable for cosmetic applications
Solution Approach 2:
CO2 acts as an intermediary supercritical fluid that facilitates selective lipid extraction and enables transformation from liquid oil to solid butter. The intermediary role of CO2 allows controlled precipitation and crystallization of pure solid coffee butter, resolving the contradiction between yield and quality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process yields a high-quality, solid lipidic extract with wound healing, antibacterial, and skin moisturizing properties, suitable for cosmetic and therapeutic uses, and a delipidated coffee powder usable as pigments.
Implementation Method 1
Extracting lipids from the dry spent coffee grounds using supercritical fluid extraction, using, as the supercritical fluid, a fluid comprising at least 90% w/w CO2 relative to the total weight of the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for processing spent coffee grounds using supercritical fluid extraction. This method provides a solid lipidic extract, which presents wound healing, antibacterial and skin moisturizing properties, and a delipidated coffee powder that can be micronized into a very fine powder making it suitable for use as pigments in cosmetics, inks or paints.