Method for the separate extraction of rice bran oil and rice bran waxes

A method for the separate extraction of rice bran oil and rice bran wax with the following steps:

• a) an extraction step involving provision of an extraction vessel containing rice bran and percolating supercritical CO2 through the extraction vessel at an extraction pressure within the range of 500-600 bar and at an extraction temperature within the range of 50° C. to 80° C.;
• b) a first separation step involving transferring the supercritical CO2 and an extract comprising of oil and waxes from step a) to a first separation vessel and reducing the pressure to a first separation pressure that is lower than the extraction pressure to precipitate a first product comprising rice bran oil from supercritical CO2;
• and
• c) a second separation step involving transferring supercritical CO2 and the remaining extract from step b) to a second separation vessel and reducing the pressure to a second separation pressure that is lower than the first separation pressure to precipitate a second product comprising rice bran wax from gaseous CO2, wherein the second separation step c) is conducted at a second separation temperature that is lower than the extraction temperature of extraction step a).