A reverse osmosis rack used in a caffeine pilot plant.

GEA Messo PT has been an important partner in the development of technologies for the recovery of high quality caffeine. A major focus of the recovery process is to manufacture a white crystalline product. This is achieved by operation at low temperature, and elimination of free oxygen in the process fluids.
The recovery of caffeine by extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide is extremely selective. The caffeine retains the typical coffee taste. Carbon dioxide from air or fermentation processes vent gases can be used for the extraction, thus making the operation environmentally passive (no carbon emissions of its own). Additionally, extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide replaces the conventional solvent extraction processes, and thus contributes to reducing the emission of ozone depleting chlorinated hydrocarbons.

GEA Messo PT has extensive experience and has supplied several installations to recover water-based CO₂, as well as CO₂ recovery by activated carbon adsorption.