Influence of ethanol, water, and their mixtures as co-solvents of the supercritical carbon dioxide in the extraction of phenolics from purple corn cob (Zea mays L.)

⿢Anthocyanins and phenolic compounds from cob were extracted with scCO2using ethanol/water as co-solvents.⿢The highest global yields and of compounds of interest were obtained when 32% etanol/water (70%) mixture was used as CO2 co-solvent.⿢Pure ethanol is not efficient as a co-solvent of CO2 to extract phenolics from corn cob.⿢High phenolic contents and consequent high antioxidant activity was observed in all extracts .