Dense Phase Carbon Dioxide (PDF)

Dense phase carbon dioxide (DPCD) is a non-thermal method for
food and pharmaceutical processing that can ensure safe products
with minimal nutrient loss and better preserved quality attributes.
Its application is quite different than, for example, supercritical
extraction with CO 2 where the typical solubility of materials in
CO 2 is in the order of 1% and therefore requires large volumes of
CO 2. In contrast, processing with DPCD requires much less CO 2
(between 5 to 8% CO 2 by weight) and the pressures used are at
least one order of magnitude less than those typically used in
ultra high pressure (UHP) processing. There is no noticeable
temperature increase due to pressurization, and typical process
temperatures are around 40°C.

DPCD temporarily reduces the pH of liquid foods and because
oxygen is removed from the environment, and because the temperature
is not high during the short process time (typically about five
minutes in continuous systems), nutrients, antioxidant activity,
and vitamins are much better preserved than with thermal
treatments. In pharmaceutical applications, DPCD facilitates the
production of micronized powders of controlled particle size and
distribution. Although the capital and operating costs are higher
than that of thermal treatments, they are much lower than other
non-thermal technology operations.

This book is the first to bring together the significant amount
of research into DPCD and highlight its effectiveness against
microorganisms and enzymes as well as its potential in particle
engineering. It is directed at food and pharmaceutical industry
scientists and technologists working with DPCD and other
traditional or non-thermal technologies that can potentially be
used in conjunction with DPCD. It will also be of interest to
packaging specialists and regulatory agencies.