All about Lubrizol’s eco-friendly subcritical water extraction method for natural-oriented cosmetic products.

By only using water, in-house Phenobio™ subcritical water technology allows the recovery of a broader range of phytoactives from plants, in higher concentrations, in a short extraction time and with no thermal degradation.

Offering a sustainable alternative to chemical solvents, the eco-friendly Phenobio™ subcritical water technology is behind Lubrizol's botanical expertise for the development of efficient natural active ingredients for the personal care market.

Recognitions from the beauty industry include the 2023 Lester Conrad Memorial Award for the Best Overall Paper titled “Naturally Increasing Phytochemical Complexity in Botanical Extractions Using a Highly Efficient Low Environmental Impact and Sustainable Technique” at the Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists in Australia. 

When water stops being water… amazing things happen

How does Phenobio™ subcritical water technology works?

Phenobio™ subcritical water technology manipulates temperature and pressure in such a way that water transforms itself and modifies its own characteristics. 

Changes in polarity modify the behavior of water as a solvent, allowing for increased extraction efficiency, including the recovery of apolar compounds that are not usually highly soluble in water at room temperature.

Which are some of the benefits of Phenobio™ subcritical water technology versus standard extraction methods?

To chemical solvents, Phenobio™ subcritical water technology is the clean alternative. In addition to its valuable sustainability profile in the development of active ingredients, it allows for increased extraction efficiency and a broader recovery of phytoactives both polar and apolar. The result are more concentrated extracts with expected higher efficacy.

27%  energy savings ·100% compostable biomass post extraction · 64% water savings