A method using supercritical carbon dioxide to produce concentrated carotenoids and tocols from palm oil is described. The free fatty acids of crude palm oil were esterified by acid-catalysis followed by transesterification of the triglycerides into methyl esters. Methyl esters are considerably more soluble in supercritical carbon dioxide than the triglycerides and free fatty acids, and are preferentially dissolved leaving a solution of highly concentrated carotenoids (20.11 wt%) and tocols (10.66 wt%).

Keywords: carbon dioxide, carotenoids, methyl esters, palm oil, tocols