Pioneering Supercritical CO₂ Extraction in Vietnam
Vietnam is a global leader in the production and export of several agricultural commodities such as black pepper, cassia cinnamon, and star anise. However, the majority of these products are exported in raw or minimally processed form, limiting their added value.
In 2019, we formed a team of four passionate individuals under the name VKD, with a shared vision to research and develop supercritical CO₂ extraction technology tailored to Vietnam’s unique conditions and key agricultural products.
Our Development Goals:
Reduce CAPEX (Capital Expenditure):
We designed and built our own CO₂ extraction system using local engineering resources to significantly lower initial investment costs. This also allowed us to tailor the system specifically for Vietnamese conditions and for raw materials like black pepper.- Reduce OPEX (Operating Expenditure):
We focused on optimizing the extraction process to achieve high yield and quality while minimizing power and CO₂ consumption. Our goal is to maintain competitive production costs while ensuring environmental sustainability. - Commitment to Circular Economy:
In addition to producing high-value CO₂-extracted oleoresins, the post-extraction biomass—rich in protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and minerals—is repurposed as input for animal and poultry feed. This approach underscores our commitment to an eco-friendly business model and contributes to the circular economy.
Key Milestones:
2019: Research, design, and in-house manufacturing of our first CO₂ extraction system.
2020: Successful operation of the system and production of our first CO₂ extract samples.
2021–2024: Over three years of continuous improvement in equipment design and process optimization to match the characteristics of local raw materials and Vietnam’s operating environment.
With a fully developed, cost-efficient CO₂ extraction process, we are now ready to supply premium-quality oleoresin extracts to both domestic and international markets—offering not only purity and performance, but also competitive pricing and a sustainable production model.
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