Recent highlights in extraction of pigments from plant and algae resources using supercritical fluids

Abstract Growing environmental concerns associated with fossil‐based materials, coupled with their limited reserves, have intensified the global pursuit of renewable alternatives. Among these, natural pigments derived from plants and algae are emerging as promising sustainable resources with diverse industrial applications. This review highlights major categories of natural pigments including chlorophylls, carotenoids, xanthophylls, and phenolics, focusing on their extraction methodologies and significance in food, textile, pharmaceutical, and life sciences industries. Particular emphasis is placed on supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ) extraction, an eco‐friendly approach that ensures high selectivity and improves pigment yields under optimized operational conditions. The effect of critical parameters, such as, pressure, temperature, co‐solvent, and extraction time on pigment recovery and quality are evaluated comprehensively. Furthermore, the review addresses current limitations related to scale‐up of scCO 2 based extraction systems and explores future directions, which includes integration of machine learning tools to enhance process efficiency and pigment recovery.