Patent ID: 7897050
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A method of extracting and separating a solute from an insoluble composition using an inclined auger in a pressurized chamber, the method comprising: a) passing the insoluble composition comprising solute into a pressurized inclined housing containing an auger having screw flights; b) combining the insoluble composition with a solvent gas in either the supercritical or liquid phase to dissolve the solute, thereby extracting the solute from the insoluble composition; c) maintaining pressure in the housing sufficient to create a biphasic dense gas comprising a vapor phase and a liquid phase, wherein liquid phase solvent gas is maintained at a level in the pressurized inclined housing sufficient for the insoluble composition to be immersed in liquid phase solvent gas at lower elevations of the housing including a pool of liquid phase solvent in the volume between lower screw flights of the auger; and d) rotating the auger to promote the separation of the insoluble composition from the solute; whereby the solute and the liquid phase of the dense gas flow to the bottom of the auger for removal and the insoluble composition and vapor phase of the dense gas move to the top of the auger for removal, thereby separating the solute from the insoluble composition.