Robertet, a leader in natural raw materials for fragrances and flavors, will acquire Phasex, a supercritical CO2 extraction company for natural products in particular.WHO: Based in North Andover, Massachusetts, Phasex is a pioneer in CO2 extraction and focuses mainly on three market segments: natural products, biopharmaceuticals, and polymers. The company was founded in 1981 by Val Krukonis, one of the early adopters and advocates for the use of supercritical CO2 extraction for a broad range of applications in the United States. Supercritical CO2 extraction is an innovative and environmentally friendly method for extracting high-quality aromatic or functional components from a solid biomass or liquid raw material by using supercritical carbon dioxide. Supercritical CO2 is more environmentally friendly than alternatives such as hexane, butane, and ethanol.The supercritical process involves using pressure and temperature to reach the supercritical phase, where the CO2 is between a liquid and a gas. In this phase, the CO2 offers unique dissolving powers, making removing certain components from the substrate material possible.Phasex has remained at the forefront of this technology ever since it was founded, bringing together the world's leading experts, and has secured multiple patents in the United States covering various supercritical fluid applications. Phasex is unique in its capabilities, performing R&D and pilot tests through to large-scale production.Robertet SA was founded in Grasse in 1850 and is the world leader in natural products.