Process for extraction of aroma chemicals from fat-containing and/or aqueous liquid phases

1. A process for continuous extraction of an aroma chemical, comprising:

(a) mixing a continuous stream S F1 of an aqueous and/or fat-containing liquid phase F 1 with a continuous stream S G1 of a gas G 1 in cocurrent to obtain a continuous stream S 1 of a mixture of the streams S F1 and S G1 , wherein the liquid phase F 1 comprises an aroma chemical and the gas G 1 is in a liquid or supercritical state;

(b) continuously passing the stream S 1 through a tube R having an internal surface O I and an external surface O A , such that

the stream S 1 contacts the internal surface O I and that the aroma chemical in the stream S F1 is at least partly extracted into the stream S G1 while passing through the tube R, thereby obtaining

a continuous stream S 2 exited the tube R, wherein the stream S 2 is a mixture of a continuous stream S F2 comprising a liquid phase F 2 containing a smaller amount of the aroma chemical compared to the stream S F1 and a continuous stream S G2 comprising liquid and/or supercritical gas G 2 enriched in the aroma chemical compared to the stream S G1 ; and

(c) at least partly contacting at least a portion of the stream S 2 with the external surface O A of the tube R such that a heat exchange takes place between the streams S 2 and S 1 ,

wherein the stream S 1 when exiting the tube R is at least partly oriented against the gravitational force.

2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

(d) continuously separating the stream S G2 from the stream S F2 .

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the separating in (d) is performed such that the stream S G2 is directed upwards and that the stream S F2 is directed downwards due to the gravitational force.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the liquid phase F 1 is a fat or oil of vegetable or animal origin comprising the aroma chemical.

5. The process of claim 4 , wherein the liquid phase F 1 comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of peanut oil, hazelnut oil, and coconut oil.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the liquid phase F 1 is an aqueous solution having a fruit aroma.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the fruit aroma is apple aroma.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the gas G 1 is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, ethane, propane, propene, butane, N 2 O and mixtures thereof.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the gas G 1 is supercritical carbon dioxide.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein a part of the stream S 1 exiting the tube R is first oriented against the gravitational force and then flows following the gravitational force.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the tube R leads into the interior of an autoclave A, and, in (b), the stream S 1 is passed through the tube R into the interior of the autoclave A.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein the stream S 2 is backed up in the autoclave A such that the backed-up stream S 2 at least partially covers the external surface O A of the tube R located interior of the autoclave A.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the liquid phase F 1 is a fat or oil of vegetable origin comprising the aroma chemical.

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein, in (b), the stream S 1 is oriented against the gravitational force.

15. The process of claim 1 , wherein, in (b), a mass ratio of the stream S F1 to the stream S G1 is from 1:1 to 1:50.

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein the tube R is at least partly composed of stainless steel.

17. The process of claim 1 , wherein, in (c), the portion of the stream S 2 contacted with the external surface O A of the tube R flows along the external surface O A .