High pressure micronization for food applications

Micronization processes using the unique properties of supercritical fluids (SCF) have reached a state, where they are entering industrial application. Results from almost 3 decades of basic research concerning thermodynamics and mass transfer during solidification in presence of SCF have been applied to develop a multitude of process ideas. Selected processes from the anti-solvent- and PGSS-type have been scaled up and are successfully operated. The key to success was not only to develop the technologies and to demonstrate their technical and economical feasibility but also to generate new concepts for applications in the food area. Selected examples will be presented and the achievements and challenges still to be met are summarized. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.