SFT SFT-110XW Series Fully Automated Supercritical Fluid Extraction System

Overview

The SFT SFT-110XW Series is a fully automated, benchtop-scale supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) system engineered for precision, reproducibility, and method development in analytical, pharmaceutical, and natural product laboratories. It utilizes carbon dioxide (CO₂) as the primary supercritical solvent—leveraging its tunable solvation power above the critical point (31.1 °C, 1070 psi)—to selectively extract thermolabile, non-polar to moderately polar compounds without thermal degradation. The system operates on the principle of density-modulated solvation: by independently controlling temperature and pressure across the extraction vessel and back-pressure regulator, users precisely modulate CO₂ density—and thus solvent strength—to fractionate complex matrices such as plant biomass, algae, spices, or nutraceutical feedstocks. Designed for GLP-compliant environments, the SFT-110XW integrates real-time pressure/temperature feedback loops, closed-loop flow stabilization, and hardware-level safety interlocks—including rupture disc protection, overpressure shutdown, and thermal cutoffs—ensuring operational integrity during extended unattended runs.

Key Features

• Fully automated operation with programmable multi-step methods: pressure ramping, temperature profiling, static/dynamic extraction cycles, and sequential co-solvent injection.
• Modular extraction vessels (10–1000 mL) constructed from high-strength stainless steel with electric heating jackets and PID-controlled thermal regulation (±0.5 °C accuracy from ambient to 200 °C).
• High-pressure dual-piston CO₂ pump featuring sapphire pistons, Furon® seals, aluminum pump head with Peltier-based active cooling, and integrated pressure transducers—capable of maintaining stable 10,000 psi output with automatic flow compensation to sustain setpoint pressure.
• Micro-circulating metering back-pressure regulator (BPR) with independent thermal control per vessel channel; enables precise pressure hold (±5 psi) and dynamic pressure modulation during extraction.
• Dual-collection flexibility: direct condensation into chilled receivers, solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge trapping, or solvent-assisted liquid trapping—each configurable with independent flow routing and valve sequencing.
• Integrated Peltier-cooled CO₂ pre-chiller and fluid preheater assemblies, factory-calibrated and leak-tested prior to shipment.
• Expandable architecture supporting parallel dual-vessel operation for method reproducibility studies or comparative screening under identical process conditions.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The SFT-110XW accommodates heterogeneous solid samples—including ground botanicals, tea leaves, coffee beans, hop cones, microalgae biomass, and polymer-embedded analytes—via standardized stainless-steel mesh sample baskets with locking lids. Sample loading volume is optimized per vessel size to ensure uniform CO₂ permeation and minimize channeling. All wetted surfaces comply with USP Class VI and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements for material compatibility and data integrity. The system supports audit-trail-enabled operation when paired with SFT’s optional LabControl™ software, meeting GLP/GMP documentation standards for regulated workflows. Pressure and temperature sensors are NIST-traceable; vessel certifications conform to ASME B31.3 process piping and PED 2014/68/EU directives.

Software & Data Management

Control and monitoring are executed via SFT’s Windows-based LabControl™ software (v5.2+), providing intuitive graphical method building, real-time parameter visualization (P/T/flow/time plots), and automated report generation compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 and ASTM D7917-15 (Standard Guide for SFE Method Development). All operational events—including valve actuations, pressure deviations >2%, thermal excursions, and pump fault codes—are time-stamped and stored with user authentication. Data export supports CSV, PDF, and XML formats; raw logs include metadata required for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic signature validation when configured with role-based access and digital certificate integration.

Applications

• Decaffeination and essential oil isolation from coffee, tea, and citrus peels.
• Extraction of cannabinoids (e.g., CBD, CBG) from industrial hemp biomass under GMP-aligned protocols.
• Removal of lipid contaminants from protein isolates and enzyme preparations.
• Deprotection and purification of synthetic intermediates in fine chemical synthesis.
• Residual solvent removal from pharmaceutical granules post-wet granulation.
• Green chemistry research: replacement of chlorinated solvents (e.g., dichloromethane) in natural pigment recovery (e.g., curcumin, betalains, anthocyanins).
• Method transfer support for scale-up to pilot- or production-scale SFE systems (e.g., SFT-250 or SFT-500 series).

FAQ

What CO₂ purity grade is recommended for optimal system performance?
Use ≥99.995% purity food-grade or research-grade CO₂ with certified low moisture (<10 ppm) and hydrocarbon content (<1 ppm); impurities may accelerate seal degradation or cause BPR clogging.
Can the system handle co-solvents other than ethanol or methanol?
Yes—compatible with polar modifiers including isopropanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate via optional coaxial or modular co-solvent delivery kits; all lines feature chemically resistant PEEK and Hastelloy C-276 components.
Is remote monitoring supported?
LabControl™ supports secure LAN/WAN access with TLS 1.2 encryption; live parameter streaming and alarm notifications are configurable via SMTP or SNMP protocols.
What maintenance intervals are specified for the high-pressure pump?
Furon® seals require replacement every 1,500 operating hours or annually (whichever occurs first); sapphire pistons and check valves are rated for ≥5,000 hours under typical CO₂ duty cycles.
Does the system meet explosion-proof requirements for Class I, Division 1 environments?
The base configuration is rated for general laboratory use (UL 61010-1); explosion-proof variants (NEC Class I Div 1, ATEX II 2G Ex db IIB T4) are available as custom-engineered builds with purged enclosures and intrinsically safe I/O.