Abstract: Passiflora seed oil was extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide, the effect of process parameters on extraction rate of oil was studied, physical and chemical properties and fatty acid composition of passiflora seed oil were analyzed. The optimal process parameters of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SCDE)were as follows: particle size of material 270 μm, extraction pressure 20 MPa, extraction temperature 50℃, the first separation at temperature 40℃, pressure 8 MPa, the second separation at temperature 40℃, and extraction time 3 h. Under these conditions, extraction rate was over 25%. The color of passiflora seed oil SCDE was light-colored and transparent. Physical and chemical properties of passiflora seed oil were superior to those by solvent extraction. Passiflora seed oil was rich in unsaturated fatty acid, the content of which was up to 89.43%, and content of linoleic acid was 72.69%.

Key words: passiflora seed, supercritical CO₂ extraction, seed oil, fatty acid