The present work pertains to estimation of the maximum degree of supersaturation that can be attained in an organic solution by the DELOS process using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a cosolvent. The paper analyzes the effects of initial mole fraction of carbon dioxide, temperature and pressure on the degree of supersaturation of cholesterol in a CO2 - acetone - cholesterol solution. It has been observed that owing to liberation of large amounts of CO2 very large temperature drops may be attained by depressurization, resulting in attainment of very high supersaturation. Within the ranges of the parameters studied in this work, the degree of supersaturation is higher with higher values of initial temperature and initial CO2 mole fraction of the solution due to inverse interdependence of the final temperature and the residual CO2 mole fraction in the depressurized solution. (c) 2006 Society of Chemical Industry.