This review provides an update on the use of supercritical fluid (SCF) technology as applied to food-based materials. It advocates the use of the solubility parameter theory (SPT) for rationalizing the results obtained when employing sub- and supercritical media to food and nutrient-bearing materials and for optimizing processing conditions. Total extraction and fractionation of foodstuffs employing SCFs are compared and are illustrated by using multiple fluids and unit processes to obtain the desired food product. Some of the additional prophylactic benefits of using carbon dioxide as the processing fluid are explained and illustrated with multiple examples of commercial products produced using SCF media. I emphasize the role of SCF technology in the context of environmentally benign and sustainable processing, as well as its integration into an overall biorefinery concept. Conclusions are drawn in terms of current trends in the field and future research that is needed to secure new applications of the SCF platform as applied in food science and technology.

A study on the physicochemical properties of methyl soyate (or soybean oil fatty acid methyl esters) is very important for its use as a substitute solvent in liquid–liquid separations. Towards this end, the Hildebrand solubility parameter of methyl soyate was determined using an inverse gas chromatographic technique (IGC). Solute specific retention volumes of 19 solutes (varying in solubility parameter) were determined using methyl soyate as the stationary phase. Flory–Huggins interaction parameters between the solvent (methyl soyate) and the solutes, calculated using the solute retention data, were then used in studying the miscibility of the solute in the solvent at infinite dilution. The Hildebrand solubility parameters of methyl soyate varied from 8.03 to 7.49 cal^{1 /2}cm^−3/2 at temperatures from 50–85 °C. The solubility parameter of methyl soyate at room temperature conditions extrapolated from the experimental data was found to be 8.49 cal^{1 /2}cm^−3/2. This value is consistent with those obtained using group contribution methods for model methyl esters of C18 fatty acids found predominantly in methyl soyate. Hansen solubility spheres were plotted using the literature data (including this study) for the interactions of methyl soyate with 41 solutes to determine the three dimensional solubility parameter of methyl soyate at room temperature. These calculated solubility parameter values were consistent with those determined experimentally viaIGC.