CO2 Extraction

CO2 extraction uses carbon dioxide under controlled pressure and temperature to selectively dissolve and extract aromatic and bioactive compounds from botanical materials. At supercritical conditions (above 31.1°C and 73.8 bar), CO2 behaves simultaneously as a liquid and gas, enabling highly selective extraction without heat damage.

CO2 extraction has become increasingly important in premium botanical beverage production because it offers extraction selectivity unmatched by traditional methods. By adjusting the CO2 operating conditions along a pressure-temperature matrix, producers can dial in extraction preference for specific compound classes: low-pressure CO2 selectively extracts terpenes and volatile aromatics; higher pressure extracts lipids and heavier phenolics. This tuneability makes CO2 a precision extraction tool.

Supercritical CO2 (scCO2) extraction — operating above both critical temperature and pressure — is particularly valued because it combines the solvating power of a liquid with the diffusivity of a gas, enabling rapid, complete extraction of botanical matrices without the thermal degradation caused by steam distillation or the residual solvent concerns of ethanol extraction. The CO2 is simply evaporated after extraction, leaving no residue in the extract.

For the zero-proof spirits industry, CO2-extracted botanicals represent a premium ingredient tier. Producers like Discarded Spirits (who use this method for some botanicals) and Pentire Drinks cite CO2 extraction as a quality differentiator that enables botanical accuracy — the extract smells and tastes more true-to-source than equivalent steam- or ethanol-extracted materials.

Beyond flavor: CO2 extraction is the standard method for producing CBD oil from hemp, and as the functional beverage space expands, the same technology is being adapted to extract adaptogenic and nootropic compounds (lion's mane beta-glucans, reishi triterpenes) for inclusion in premium zero-proof formulations. The crossover between botanical spirits and functional wellness is one of the most commercially active frontiers in the category.