Method for microfluidic extraction from vegetable oil

An extraction process for microfluidic extraction of molecules of interest from a vegetable oil, comprising:

• a) providing a microfluidic chip with a double-Y-channel circuit, wherein said microfluidic chip comprises two inlets, two outlets, and a main channel,
• a first vessel comprising vegetable oil,
• a second vessel comprising an extraction solvent for extracting the molecules of interest, said extraction solvent being ethanol, said first and second vessels, each being in fluid connection with the two inlets of the microfluidic chip,
• a pressure controller capable of pressurizing the vegetable oil and said extraction solvent,
• a first collector in fluid connection with the microfluidic chip, in which a vegetable oil enriched in triglycerides is collected, and
• a second collector in fluid connection with the microfluidic chip, in which an extraction solvent enriched in molecules of interest is collected,
• b) controlling pressures in order to subject the vegetable oil to a pressure P1 and the extraction solvent to a pressure P2, such that an interface between the vegetable oil and the extraction solvent is positioned at a junction point of inlets,
• c) bringing the vegetable oil and the extraction solvent into contact with each other in the main channel for a period of time enabling extraction of the molecules of interest,
• d) collecting the extraction solvent enriched in molecules of interest,
• e) optionally, evaporating the extraction solvent from the extraction solvent enriched in molecules of interest, and
• f) collecting the vegetable oil enriched in triglycerides.