The use of supercritical CO2 was tested in the selective extraction of the limonene contained in the bergamot essential oil (Citrus bergamia Risso), var. bergamia, and posterior concentration of the oxygenated fraction (linalool and linalyl acetate) with reduced bergapten. It was used silica gel as adsorbent to improve the fractionation between the components of interest. It was tested, firstly, the extraction temperature and carbon dioxide density ideals for the removal of the limonene. Then, in a second stage was determined the best temperature and density for the linalool and linalyl acetate extraction with reduced bergapten. After extraction, the essential oil extract with 52% of linalool and 69.4% linalyl acetate had 72% less limonene and 92.7 less bergapten.
supercritical CO2; linalool; linalyl acetate
