Patent ID: 8460550

Claim:
A method for the continuous processing of a starting material using a first near-critical or supercritical fluid comprising: a. loading a loading zone with the starting material; b. providing a vessel having a treatment zone for treatment of the starting material; c. circulating the first near-critical or supercritical fluid from the treatment zone to the loading zone to equalize the pressure between the loading zone and the treatment zone; d. introducing the starting material from the loading zone into the treatment zone under first near-critical or supercritical conditions through a restriction device; e. conveying the starting material through the vessel with the first near-critical or supercritical fluid to treat the starting material; f. circulating the first near-critical or supercritical fluid from the treatment zone to an unloading zone to equalize the pressure between the unloading zone and the treatment zone; g. opening a restriction device in direct fluid communication between the treatment zone and the unloading zone; h. transferring raffinate from the treatment zone to the unloading zone through the restriction device in direct fluid communication between the treatment zone and the unloading zone; and i. collecting the raffinate in an unloading zone.