JPH0910502A - Extraction process for object component out of natural solid raw material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an extraction process for extracting an objective component in a high concentration out of a natural solid raw material and preventing the mixing of non-objective components into an extracted material. CONSTITUTION: A water-soluble component including nicotine in a tobacco raw material is extracted by the cycle of routs A-B-C and dissolved into absorbed water 18. The absorbed water 18 is introduced from the lower outlet side of the absorbed water 18 into a first separator 33 through a route E. The absorbed water 18 containing a water-soluble component is brought into contact with carbon dioxide in the first separator 33. As the carbon dioxide is provided with the temperature gradient in the first separator 33 as above-mentioned, rectification is applied to nicotine and non-objective components other than nicotine. Thus nicotine only is dissolved into carbon dioxide by the difference of temperature of solubility to carbon dioxide between nicotine and non-objective components. As a result, the separation of carbon dioxide containing nicotine in a high concentration from the absorbed water containing the non-objective components is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to, for example, a cigarette and a cigarette.
The present invention relates to a method for extracting target components from natural solid raw materials such as nicotine and caffeine from natural solid raw materials such as tea, black tea and green tea.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for extracting target components such as nicotine and caffeine from natural solid raw materials such as tobacco, coffee, black tea and green tea, for example, high pressure fluid such as carbon dioxide in a supercritical state. There is known a method in which the target component is dissolved by contacting with a natural solid raw material and then extracted.

In the extraction method using such a high-pressure fluid, the target component is separated from the high-pressure fluid containing the target component,
As a method for recovering, for example, a pressure change separation method is known. In this pressure change separation method, as high pressure fluid,
For example, carbon dioxide is heated to a predetermined temperature of, for example, 70 ° C. in a heat exchanger, and then introduced into an extractor containing a natural solid raw material by using a supply pump. Here, the inside of this extractor is maintained at a predetermined pressure, for example, 250 kg / cm ² . Under such pressure and temperature conditions, the target component contained in the natural solid raw material is dissolved in carbon dioxide and extracted. Then, carbon dioxide containing the extracted target component is introduced into the separator. Since the inside of this separator is set to a pressure lower than that of the extractor, for example, 50 kg / cm ² , the target component dissolved in carbon dioxide is separated due to the difference in the dissolving power.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned pressure change separation method, components soluble in the high-pressure fluid other than the necessary target components (hereinafter, non-target components) are also extracted in the high-pressure fluid and the separator is used. It is removed outside the system. For example,
When extracting nicotine from tobacco using carbon dioxide as a high-pressure fluid, components of tobacco other than nicotine, especially oils and fats (wax) that make up the scent and taste of tobacco, are also dissolved in carbon dioxide and extracted, It will be separated by a separator. As a result, the flavor and aroma of the cigarette is significantly deteriorated, and the quality is remarkably deteriorated. In this case, the target component is an unnecessary component that should be removed from the natural solid raw material, and the extraction of the non-target component together with the target component means that the useful component is removed from the natural solid raw material.

Further, when caffeine is extracted from black tea, green tea or coffee, components other than caffeine, particularly aromatic components such as essential oil components are also extracted at the same time and separated and removed by a separator. As a result, the flavor is significantly reduced and the quality is reduced.

On the other hand, the target component is useful, and the contamination of the extract with the non-target component causes deterioration of the quality of the target component. For example, in the case of extracting a component that constitutes a scent or taste from a poor quality tobacco and using it as a flavor, mixing nicotine as an extract narrows the range of use as the flavor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and extracts a target component at a high concentration from a natural solid raw material,
Provided is a method for extracting a target component from a natural solid raw material, which almost completely prevents the non-target component from being mixed in the extract.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a first high-pressure fluid is introduced into an extractor containing a natural solid raw material and brought into contact with the natural solid raw material, so that a plurality of different types contained in the natural solid raw material. Component is extracted into the first high-pressure fluid, and then the first high-pressure fluid is introduced into an absorber containing an absorbent and brought into contact with the absorbent to allow absorption of the absorbent of the plurality of different types of components. After absorbing the soluble component in the absorbent,
A first circulation step of returning the first high-pressure fluid to the extractor, a second separator in which an absorbent containing an absorbent-soluble component is introduced into a first separator, and a temperature gradient over a predetermined temperature range is applied.
A second circulation step of bringing the absorbent into contact with a high-pressure fluid, dissolving the target component of the absorbent-soluble component in the second high-pressure fluid, and then returning the absorbent to the absorber, and the target component. A third circulation step of introducing the second high-pressure fluid into the second separator to separate the target component from the second high-pressure fluid, and then returning the second high-pressure fluid to the first separator. A method for extracting a target component from a natural solid raw material is provided. .

[0009]

According to the method for extracting a target component from a natural solid raw material according to the present invention, first, in the first circulation step, the natural solid raw material stored in the extractor is brought into contact with the first high pressure fluid to produce the natural solid raw material. A plurality of different types of components contained in are dissolved and extracted. These components include a target component and a non-target component that is soluble in the first high-pressure fluid other than the target component. Next, the first high-pressure fluid containing the plurality of different types of components is soluble in the absorbent containing the target component among the different types of components by contact with a predetermined amount of the absorbent contained in the absorber. This component (hereinafter referred to as the absorbent-soluble component) is dissolved and absorbed in the absorbent. The first high-pressure fluid is discharged from the absorber while holding a part of the different kinds of components, that is, a component insoluble in the absorbent (hereinafter referred to as an absorbent-insoluble component).

The first high-pressure fluid holding only the insoluble component of the absorbent is again introduced into the extractor and acts as an extraction solvent. Therefore, the first high pressure fluid circulates in a closed cycle configured between the extractor and the absorber. As a result, the concentration of the insoluble component in the first high-pressure fluid increases, and eventually the dissolution of the insoluble component in the natural solid raw material into the first high-pressure fluid and the first
The re-adsorption of the absorbent-insoluble component in the high-pressure fluid to the natural solid raw material is in an equilibrium state, and apparently no dissolution of the absorbent-insoluble component in the natural solid raw material into the first high-pressure fluid occurs. Therefore, it becomes possible to minimize the extraction of the absorbent-insoluble component in the natural solid raw material.

On the other hand, the absorbent-soluble component containing the target component and the non-target component in the natural solid raw material is extracted by the first high-pressure fluid circulating in the closed cycle, and a predetermined amount of the absorbent stored in the absorber is absorbed. Absorbed by the agent. This allows
The concentration of the water-soluble component in the absorbent increases, and eventually the concentration of the soluble component of the absorbent between the absorbent and the first high-pressure fluid reaches an equilibrium state, apparently absorbing the soluble component of the absorbent in the first high-pressure fluid. Absorption into the drug does not occur. Furthermore, the absorbent-soluble component between the natural solid raw material and the first high-pressure fluid also reaches an equilibrium state, and apparently the absorbent-soluble component in the natural solid raw material does not dissolve in the high-pressure fluid.

Here, the absorbent-soluble component absorbed by the absorbent includes a target component and a non-target component soluble in the absorbent other than the target component. Therefore, when the absorbent is taken out of the system as it is, the non-target component dissolved in the absorbent is removed from the system. Therefore, in the second circulation step, the absorbent containing such an absorbent-soluble component is subjected to a second temperature gradient in the first separator over a predetermined temperature range.
Contact with high pressure fluid. Inside the first separator, the target component and the non-target component are subjected to rectification. This allows
Only the target component is dissolved in the second high pressure fluid by utilizing the temperature dependence of the solubility of the target component and the non-target component in the second high pressure fluid. The absorbent-soluble component after the target component is separated, that is, the absorbent containing the non-target component is returned to the absorber and circulated. As a result, the non-target components are almost completely prevented from being mixed into the extract and removed from the system. Therefore, when the target component is useful, deterioration of the quality of the target component is prevented. On the other hand, when the non-target component is useful, it suppresses the reduction of the non-target component in the natural solid raw material and prevents the quality deterioration of the natural solid raw material.

In the second circulation step, since the absorbent is circulated between the absorber and the first separator and used, the amount of the absorbent required to extract a desired amount of the target component is small. I'm done. Therefore, the amount of the non-target component in the absorbent is reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the non-target components in the natural solid raw material from decreasing.

In the third circulation step, the second high-pressure fluid containing the target component is introduced into the second separator, where the solubility of the target component in the second high-pressure fluid is lowered to reduce the target component in the second 2 Separated as an extract from the high pressure fluid.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this example, a case where nicotine is extracted as a target component from a tobacco raw material will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an extraction apparatus used in the method for extracting a target component from a natural solid raw material according to the present invention. Reference numeral 11 in the figure denotes an extractor (internal volume 9 liters, volume of the tobacco raw material filling inner container is 4 liters) filled with the tobacco raw material. A jacket 12 for temperature adjustment is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the extractor 11. At the inlet side of the extractor 11, a carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) supply source (not shown), which is a first high-pressure fluid, reaches the extractor 11 via a first supply pump 13 and a first heat exchanger 14. A path A is provided.

On the other hand, on the outlet side of the extractor 11, a system path B is provided which leads to the absorber (internal volume 6 liters) 17 via the second heat exchanger 16. A predetermined amount of absorbed water 18 is stored inside the absorber 17. A jacket 19 for temperature control is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the absorber 17.

Further, on the upper outlet side of the absorber 17, there is provided a system path C which joins the system path A from the above-mentioned first supply pump 13 to the extractor 11 via the circulation pump 20. A discharge valve 21 for discharging carbon dioxide is provided in a branched manner between the absorber 17 and the circulation pump 20 of the system C. Further, a check valve 22 is provided between the first supply pump 13 and the confluence of the system A and the system C to prevent the circulating carbon dioxide from flowing back to the first supply pump 13. .

A third outlet is provided on the lower outlet side of the absorber 17.
A path E is provided to reach the first separator 33 through the heat exchanger 31 and the flow rate control valve 32. First separator 33
The nine heaters 34 are sequentially attached to the outer periphery of the. These heaters 34 can generate a temperature gradient inside the first separator 33 along the vertical direction.

A CO ₂ supply source (not shown) for supplying carbon dioxide as a second high-pressure fluid is provided below the first separator 33.
A path F is provided from the first heat exchanger 35 to the first separator 33 via the fourth heat exchanger 35 and the second supply pump 36.

A path G is provided above the first separator 33 to reach the second separator 38 via the first pressure control valve 37. A jacket 39 for temperature control is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the second separator 38. Second separator 3
8 above the passage F through the second pressure control valve 40.
Is provided with a path H that joins the. An extract discharge valve 41 is provided below the second separator 38.

On the other hand, at the lower part of the first separator 33, a path I reaching the absorber 17 via the absorbent circulation pump 42, the fifth heat exchanger 43 and the check valve 44 is provided. Extraction of nicotine in the tobacco raw material is performed as follows using the extraction device 10 having such a configuration.

First, the tobacco container is filled with the tobacco raw material. On the other hand, the absorber 17 is filled with a predetermined amount of absorbed water 18. It is preferable to set the temperature inside the extractor 11 (hereinafter referred to as extraction temperature) to be higher than the temperature inside the absorber 17 (hereinafter referred to as absorption temperature). More specifically, the extraction temperature is set to the jacket 12
Is set to an arbitrary temperature within the range of 60 to 70 ° C. Also, the absorption temperature is set to 40 by the jacket 19.
The temperature is set to an arbitrary temperature within the range of 60 ° C to 60 ° C.

Further, by the heater 34, the first separator 3
A linear or curved temperature gradient is generated such that the temperature rises from the lower part to the upper part of 3 over a predetermined temperature range. Here, the predetermined temperature range means the first separator 3
Within the range of 3, the carbon dioxide containing the target component and the non-target component is refluxed. Specifically, 0-100
C., preferably in the temperature range of 30-60.degree.

Further, the temperature inside the second separator 38 is set by the jacket 39 to an arbitrary temperature within the range of 20 to 30 ° C. (hereinafter referred to as separation temperature). Here, with the exhaust valve 21 closed, carbon dioxide is supplied from the CO ₂ supply source by the first supply pump 13, and the first heat exchanger 1
Heat to extraction temperature according to 4. Since the system paths A to C have a closed cycle, carbon dioxide is not discharged to the outside of the system and the carbon dioxide pressure rises. Carbon dioxide pressure is 100 ~
300 kg / cm ² , preferably 200-300 kg /
Arbitrary pressure within the range of cm ² (hereinafter referred to as extraction pressure)
When it reaches, the first supply pump 13 is stopped.

On the other hand, carbon dioxide is supplied to the path F from the CO ₂ supply source, and the carbon dioxide is cooled to 0 ° C. or lower by the fourth heat exchanger 35. The cooled carbon dioxide is introduced into the first separator 33 by the second supply pump 36 and the pressure is increased. Activated when the pressure of carbon dioxide in the first separator 33 reaches a lower pressure than the absorber 17, preferably any pressure within the range of 80 to 100 kg / cm ² (hereinafter referred to as the first separation pressure). The first pressure control valve 37 is preset so that As a result, the surplus carbon dioxide is discharged to the second separator 38 via the path G, and the first separation pressure is maintained.

The carbon dioxide discharged through the route G is
The pressure inside the second separator 38 is increased. Similar to the case of the first separator 33, the second pressure control valve 40 is activated when the pressure of the second separator 38 (hereinafter referred to as the second separation pressure) reaches a pressure lower than the first separation pressure. To set.
As a result, the second separation pressure can be maintained at a pressure lower than the first separation pressure, preferably 30 kg / cm ² or less. The carbon dioxide discharged from the second pressure control valve 40 is returned to the path F via the path H and is again supplied to the first separator 33 by the second supply pump 36. In this way, a cycle including the path F, the first separator 33, the path G, the second separator, and the path H is formed.

Next, the circulation pump 20 is operated and the system line A-
Carbon dioxide is circulated in a closed cycle consisting of BC. By circulating high-pressure carbon dioxide in this way, nicotine is extracted from the tobacco raw material. That is, when high-pressure carbon dioxide comes into contact with the tobacco raw material with which the inside of the extractor 11 is filled, water-soluble components such as nicotine and hydrophobic components such as fats and oils contained in the tobacco raw material are dissolved in carbon dioxide and extracted. . Next, the carbon dioxide after the extraction treatment flows out from the extractor 11, and then passes through the system B to the second
After being cooled to the absorption temperature by the heat exchanger 16, the absorber 1
Introduced to 7. In the absorber 17, the carbon dioxide after the extraction treatment comes into contact with the absorbed water 18, and only the water-soluble component containing the target component such as nicotine contained in the carbon dioxide and the non-target component other than nicotine is dissolved in the absorbed water 18. Is absorbed. Carbon dioxide containing a hydrophobic component such as oil or fat from which nicotine or the like is separated is returned to the system A through the system C,
It is used in the extraction process described above. The above process is called a first circulation process.

As described above, in the cycle of route A-B-C, the water-soluble component containing nicotine in the tobacco raw material is dissolved in this absorbed water 18. At the same time that the circulation pump 20 is operated, the flow rate control valve 32 is opened and the absorbed water 18
Is introduced into the first separator 33 via the path E from the lower outlet side of the absorber 17. Here, the absorbed water 18 is cooled from the absorption temperature to 30 ° C. in the third heat exchanger 31.

In the first separator 33, the absorbed water 18 containing the water-soluble component comes into contact with carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is provided with the temperature gradient inside the first separator 33 as described above. Therefore, nicotine, which is a target component, and non-target components other than nicotine, which are contained in the water-soluble component, are rectified. As a result, only nicotine is dissolved in carbon dioxide due to the difference in the solubility of nicotine and the non-target component in carbon dioxide depending on the temperature. As a result,
It is separated into carbon dioxide containing nicotine in high concentration and absorbed water containing non-target components. The absorbed water containing the non-target component passes from the first separator 33 through the path I to the absorber 1
It is returned to 7. The above process is called a second circulation process.

Carbon dioxide containing this target component is introduced into the second separator 38 via the route G. The second separation pressure in the second separator 38 is kept lower than the first separation pressure in the first separator 33. Therefore, in the second separator 38, the solubility of nicotine in carbon dioxide is low, so that nicotine is separated from carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide from which nicotine has been separated is returned to the path F via the path H and is supplied to the first separator 33 again. The above process is called a third circulation process.

The above-mentioned path F-first separator 33-path G-
By repeating the cycle of the second separator 38-path H, the extract containing a high concentration of nicotine is accumulated in the second separator 38. After operating for a certain arbitrary time (hereinafter referred to as extraction time), the flow rate control valve 32 is closed,
The circulation pump 20, the absorbent circulation pump 42, and the second supply pump 36 are stopped, the discharge bubble 21 is opened, and the path A to
The carbon dioxide in C is discharged to return the system to atmospheric pressure.
In this state, the tobacco raw material from which nicotine has been extracted can be taken out from the extractor 11. On the other hand, the extract containing nicotine at a high concentration can be collected via the extract discharge valve 41. When the amount of extract is large, the extract discharge valve 41 can be opened during operation to continuously obtain the extract. However, in this case, a small amount of carbon dioxide is also emitted, so carbon dioxide corresponding to the emitted amount is reduced to CO.
₂ Need to be replenished via route F from source.

Although the temperature of the first separator 33 is controlled by the plurality of heaters 34 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of (for example, nine) jackets 50 are provided adjacent to each other on the peripheral portion of the first separator 33, and heating media having different temperatures are supplied and circulated to the jackets 50, respectively. By doing so, a temperature gradient can be generated inside the first separator 33.

According to the method for extracting the target component from the natural solid raw material described above, in the first circulation step, the tobacco raw material stored in the extractor 11 is brought into contact with the high-pressure carbon dioxide so that the water-soluble component and the hydrophobic component are absorbed. A component including a sex component is dissolved and extracted. When carbon dioxide containing these components is contacted with a predetermined amount of absorbed water contained in the absorber 17, only the water-soluble component containing nicotine in the components is dissolved in water and absorbed. On the other hand, carbon dioxide is discharged from the absorber 17 while holding only the hydrophobic component in the above components.

The carbon dioxide holding only this hydrophobic component is introduced again into the extractor 11 and acts as an extracting solvent. Therefore, carbon dioxide circulates in a closed cycle configured between the extractor and the absorber. As a result, the concentration of the hydrophobic component in the carbon dioxide increases, and eventually the dissolution of the hydrophobic component in the tobacco raw material in the carbon dioxide and the re-adsorption of the hydrophobic component in the carbon dioxide to the tobacco raw material reach an equilibrium state. The dissolution of the hydrophobic component in the upper tobacco raw material into carbon dioxide does not occur. Therefore, it becomes possible to minimize the extraction of the hydrophobic component in the tobacco raw material.

On the other hand, the water-soluble components including nicotine and non-target components in the tobacco raw material are extracted by the carbon dioxide circulating in the closed cycle and absorbed by the predetermined amount of absorbed water contained in the absorber 17. . As a result, the concentration of water-soluble components in the absorbed water increases. Eventually, the concentration of the water-soluble component between absorbed water and carbon dioxide reaches an equilibrium state, and apparently absorption of the water-soluble component in carbon dioxide into the absorbent does not occur. Further, the movement of the water-soluble component between the tobacco raw material and carbon dioxide reaches an equilibrium state, and the water-soluble component in the tobacco raw material apparently does not dissolve in the high-pressure fluid. That is, part of the amount of the ingredients of the tobacco raw material is absorbed by the absorbed water, and the remaining ingredients remain in the natural solid raw material.

However, in the above-mentioned operation for extracting nicotine from the tobacco raw material, the water-soluble non-target component other than nicotine is also absorbed by the absorbed water 18. However, in the second circulation step, only nicotine is dissolved and removed from the absorbed water 18 in the high pressure carbon dioxide by the first separator 33. The absorbed water from which the nicotine has been removed passes through the path I to the absorber 1
It is returned to 7. As a result, it is possible to almost completely prevent the non-target component from being mixed into the extract containing nicotine at a high concentration, which is recovered from the second separator 38. On the other hand, it is possible to prevent the non-target components in the tobacco raw material from decreasing, and prevent the flavor quality of the tobacco from decreasing.

Test examples and comparative examples conducted to confirm the effects of this embodiment will be described below. Test example Tobacco raw material (nicotine content: 1.99% by weight) 600 g
Was filled in the extractor 11, and an extraction test was conducted under the following conditions.

Operating conditions Extraction pressure: 250 kg / cm ² Extraction temperature: 70 ° C. Absorption temperature: 50 ° C. First separation pressure: 90 kg / cm ² Temperature distribution: Linear temperature gradient of 60 ° C. in upper part and 30 ° C. in lower part Second separation pressure : 20 kg / cm ² Separation temperature: 25 ° C. Filling amount of absorbed water: 500 g Extraction time: 2 hours As a result, the nicotine concentration in the tobacco raw material after the treatment is 0.1.
It was 15% by weight. In addition, 12.2 g of an extract having a nicotine concentration of 95% by weight was obtained. On the other hand, the amount of components other than nicotine absorbed in the absorbed water at the end of extraction was 6.3 g.

Comparative Example Using the extraction device 60 shown in FIG. 3, nicotine was extracted from the tobacco raw material.

In the figure, reference numeral 61 is an extractor (internal volume 9 liters, volume of the tobacco raw material filling inner container is 4 liters) filled with the tobacco raw material. A jacket 62 for temperature control is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the extractor 61. At the inlet side of the extractor 61, a carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) supply source (not shown) from a supply pump 63 and a first heat exchanger 64 are provided.
A system path A is provided to reach the extractor 61 via the. A flow meter 65 is provided between the extractor 61 and the first heat exchanger 64.

On the other hand, on the outlet side of the extractor 61, a system path B is provided which leads to the absorber (internal volume 6 liters) 67 via the second heat exchanger 66. A predetermined amount of absorbed water 68 is stored inside the absorber 67. A jacket 69 for temperature control is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the absorber 67.

Further, on the outlet side of the absorber 67, the circulation pump 70 is passed through, and the above-mentioned supply pump 63 to the extractor 61.
A system path C that joins the system path A leading to is provided. A discharge valve 71 for discharging carbon dioxide is provided in a branched manner between the absorber 67 and the circulation pump 70 of the system C. Further, a check valve 72 is provided between the supply pump 63 and the confluence of the system A and the system C to prevent the circulating carbon dioxide from flowing back to the supply pump 63.

Using the extraction device 60, 600 g of the same tobacco raw material as used in the test example was filled in the extractor 61, and an extraction test was conducted under the following operating conditions. Operating conditions Extraction pressure: 250 kg / cm ² Extraction temperature: 70 ° C. Absorption temperature: 50 ° C. Absorbed water amount: 2000 g Extraction time: 2 hours As a result, a tobacco having the same nicotine concentration as the test example was obtained, but absorption of 2000 g Had to use water. In addition, the amount of components other than nicotine absorbed in the absorption water at the end of extraction was 10.0 g.

As is clear from the results of the test example and the comparative example, according to the method of the test example, the target component is separated from the absorbed water in the second circulation step, and the absorbed water containing the non-target component is again absorbed in the absorber 17. Since the absorbed water is circulated and used, the amount of the absorbed water used is about 4 compared to the method of the comparative example.
In addition, the amount of non-target components other than nicotine extracted into the absorbed water could be reduced by about 30%.

As is clear from the above results, in the method of the comparative example, the amount of absorbed water used is large and the amount of non-target component absorbed in the absorbed water is also large. Therefore, many non-target components are removed from the tobacco raw material, and the flavor quality of the tobacco may be deteriorated. On the other hand, according to the method of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the amount of absorbed water used to extract a desired amount of the target component and prevent the non-target component in the tobacco raw material from decreasing. , It was confirmed that the flavor quality of tobacco can be prevented from deteriorating.

In the present embodiment, the extraction of nicotine from the tobacco raw material has been described as an example, but it is clear that the present invention can be applied to the extraction of caffeine from black tea, green tea or coffee.

Further, in the present embodiment, nicotine is an unnecessary component to be removed from the tobacco raw material, and it is explained that the non-target component can be prevented from being extracted together with nicotine and the useful component being removed from the tobacco raw material. However, in the present invention, the target component is useful, and it is possible to prevent the quality of the target component from being deteriorated by mixing the non-target component into the extract. For example, when a component that constitutes the scent or taste is extracted from poor quality tobacco and is used as a fragrance, it is possible to prevent nicotine from being mixed as an extract, and to broaden the range of use as a fragrance.

On the other hand, in the method of the above comparative example, since a large amount of the non-target component is contained in the absorbed water after the treatment, the non-target component is mixed in the extract obtained from the absorbed water. For this reason, the quality of the target component deteriorates. Further, in order to remove the non-target component from the extract, it is necessary to add a step of separating the target component and the non-target component.

[0050]

As described above, according to the method for extracting the target component from the natural solid raw material of the present invention, the first high pressure fluid is added to the natural solid raw material contained in the extractor in the first circulation step. By contacting, and then contacting the absorbent inside the absorber, only the absorbent-dissolved component in the natural solid raw material is absorbed by the absorbent. Then, the first high-pressure fluid in which the absorbent-insoluble component remains is returned to the extractor and circulated. This allows the absorbent-soluble component to be absorbed by the absorbent without reducing the absorbent-insoluble component in the natural solid raw material.

In the second circulation step, the absorbent containing the absorbent-soluble component is brought into contact with the second high-pressure fluid to which a temperature gradient is applied in the first separator over a predetermined temperature range, and the absorbent is soluble. The target component among the components is dissolved in the second high-pressure fluid.
Next, the second high-pressure fluid containing the target component is introduced into the second separator to separate the target component from the second high-pressure fluid. on the other hand,
The absorbent containing the absorbent-soluble component after the target component is removed is returned to the absorber and circulated. This makes it possible to take out only the target component out of the absorbent-soluble component and leave the non-target component in the absorbent.

Also, by circulating and using the absorbent, the amount of the absorbent used to obtain the desired amount of the extract can be small, and the non-target components are dissolved from the natural solid raw material by dissolving in the absorbent. Can be prevented.

As a result, only the target component can be extracted at a high concentration from the natural solid raw material. Further, it is possible to prevent the absorbent-insoluble component and the non-target component in the natural solid raw material from decreasing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the quality of the natural solid raw material. Further, it is possible to prevent the non-target component from being mixed with the target component without separately separating the target component and the non-target component.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an extraction apparatus used in a method for extracting a target component from a natural solid raw material of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a modification of the first separator of the extraction device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an extraction apparatus used in a method for extracting a target component from a natural solid raw material of a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Extractor, 11 ... Extractor, 13 ... First Supply Pump, 14 ... First Heat Exchanger, 16 ... Second Heat Exchanger, 17 ...
Absorber, 18 ... Absorbed water, 20 ... Circulation pump, 31 ... Third
Heat exchanger, 32 ... Flow control valve, 33 ... First separator,
34 ... Heater, 35 ... 4th heat exchanger, 36 ... 2nd supply pump, 38 ... 2nd separator, 42 ... Absorbent circulation pump, 4
3 ... Fifth heat exchanger.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hiromi Uematsu 6th, Umegaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Tobacco Central Research Institute, Tobacco Inc.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first high pressure fluid is introduced into an extractor containing a natural solid raw material and brought into contact with the natural solid raw material to form a plurality of different kinds of components contained in the natural solid raw material. And then introducing the first high-pressure fluid into an absorber containing an absorbent to bring it into contact with the absorbent to absorb an absorbent-soluble component of the plurality of different types of components into the absorbent. After that, the first circulation step of returning the first high-pressure fluid to the extractor, introducing the absorbent containing the absorbent-soluble component into the first separator, and applying a temperature gradient over a predetermined temperature range. A second circulation step of bringing the absorbent into contact with a second high-pressure fluid, dissolving the target component of the absorbent-soluble component in the second high-pressure fluid, and then returning the absorbent to the absorber, and the target component. The second high-pressure fluid containing And then separating the target component from the second high-pressure fluid, and then returning the second high-pressure fluid to the first separator. A third circulation step is provided for extracting the target component from a natural solid raw material. .