Giraldo Rojas, Francisco JavierGil Garzón, Maritza AndreaAlzate Tamayo, Luz MaríaRestrepo Duque, Ana MaríaMillán Cardona, Leonidas de JesúsOrdóñez Castillo, Andrés FranciscoRestrepo Restrepo, Carlos Esteban2012-05-142012-05-142012-05-141909-0455http://hdl.handle.net/10567/280Introduction. Paprika oleoresin (Capsicum annuum L.) is a product with a great added value in international markets for food and pharmaceutical industries. Objective. This research work aims to compare the performance of the paprika oleoresin extracted by the use of supercitric fluids, with carbon dioxide, and by the use of Soxhlet with three organic solvents (ethyl acetate, hexane and petroleum ether). Materials and methods. The supercitric fluids equipment operated at 280 and 350 bar and 70 °C. The sample was also characterized from the micro biological and physical chemical points of view (color according to the ASTA method). Results. The performances of supercritical fluids extracting method had significant differences (p<0.05) between the pressures evaluated. The extraction with ethytl acetate had the best performance and the highest value in degrees of ASTA color. Conclusion. In conclusion, the extraction at 350 bar and 70°C has a performance and a quality that can be compared to those of the Soxhlet conventional method, but also has environmental advantages because it does not leave organic solvent remains in the final product.esFluido supercríticoArticle