The recovery of ethanol from aqueous solutions was studied by using supercritical carbon dioxide. At 333.2 K and 10.0 MPa, vapor-liquid equilibrium data of the mixture CO2 + ethanol + water were determined. No azeotrope was observed. Theoretical calculation of equilibrium stages was performed and compared with countercurrent column experiments. Separation of extract and solvent was optimized by multistage solvent distillation. The height of one theoretical stage was found to depend on the ethanol content of the liquid phase. Moreover, flooding point measurements were carried out with ethanol + water mixtures of different composition. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.