We can extract the high-value lipids and bioactives from your natural resource, safely, and efficiently. From there, we help you develop and scale your process from bench to pilot scale.
We develop and optimise extraction processes using a range of food approved solvents, including supercritical CO2, liquified hydrocarbon extraction, ethanolic, and aqueous solutions. Our technologies allow you to recover functional ingredients like oils, pigments, flavonoids, terpenes, proteins and carbohydrates from complex biological materials.
Whether you're creating a premium health product or a natural agricultural input, we tailor your process to maximise yield, potency, and safety - preparing you for successful scale-up. We also offer solid state extractions from bench to pilot scale, enabling the isolation of compounds for demonstration of efficacy.
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Supercritical fluid extraction
Supercritical fluid extraction is a clean method for bioactive compound isolation from natural resources. At Callaghan Innovation, our Biotechnology Group operates New Zealand’s most versatile suite of supercritical extraction plants, offering flexibility across solvents, batch sizes and materials, from 0.5 L to 200 L.
Supercritical fluid extraction is a method that separates one component from another by using supercritical fluid as the solvent. Our world-class team are experts in optimising extraction conditions and technology transfer, so you can maximise the value of your natural product and scale faster.
Capabilities
We have the capability, solvents and regulatory approvals for most applications in plant and marine-based bioresources, with a volume capacity from 0.5 L to 200 L.
|
Solvent |
Used for |
| CO₂ (Supercritical carbon dioxide) | Clean-label extraction of oils, lipids, essential oils, pigments. Ideal for heat-sensitive compounds and solvent-free claims. Common in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. |
| CO₂ + Ethanol | Improved extraction of polar compounds like polyphenols, chlorophylls, and flavonoids. Used for full-spectrum plant extracts. |
| Propane | Highly efficient for extracting low-polarity compounds such as waxes, oils, terpenes, and aroma compounds. Suitable for cosmetics, fragrances, and some nutraceuticals. |
| DME (Dimethyl ether) | Solvent with strong affinity for both polar and non-polar compounds. Ideal for recovering complex natural matrices (e.g. bee products, marine oils). GRAS-listed and suitable for food applications. |
| DME + Water | Enhances selectivity for specific polar compounds such as sugars, glucosides, or water-soluble actives. Often used in fractionation strategies. |
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Hot aqueous extraction
Hot water extraction is a cost-effective, food-safe method to extract soluble bioactives like polysaccharides, phenolics, and proteins. It's ideal for natural product applications that require a simple, regulatory-compliant process.
Solvent extraction
Solvents extraction uses organic solvents, or mixtures, to extract or selectively separate the compounds of interest. We offer development and scale-up capabilities using both stirred vessels and packed-bed systems, with volumes up to 5,000 L.
Partnered with our low-temperature evaporators, the solvent can be easily separated from the extract. Then all extraction processes are seamlessly integrated with our downstream processing capabilities.
Capabilities
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