Scale-up approach for supercritical fluid extraction with ethanol–water modified carbon dioxide on Phyllanthus niruri for safe enriched herbal extracts

Abstract

Scaling-up supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) for the extraction of bioactive compounds from herbal plants is challenging, especially with the presence of alcohol-water as co-solvent. Hence, the main objective of this study is to validate the scale-up criteria of SFE process for Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri), and analyse the extract safety and profitability process at the industrial scale. The study was performed by using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) with ethanol–water co-solvent at two operating conditions (L1: 200 bar, 60 °C and L2: 262 bar, 80 °C). The solvent-to-feed ratio (S/F) scale-up validation experiments were conducted at both operating conditions with feed mass capacity of 0.5 kg. The extraction yields and overall extraction curves obtained were almost similar to the predicted ones, with error of 5.13% and 14.2%, respectively. The safety of scale-up extract was evaluated by using a toxicity test against zebrafish embryo (FETT). The extract exhibited a low toxic effect with the LD50 value of 505.71 µg/mL. The economic evaluation using a detailed profitability analysis showed that the SFE of P. niruri was an economically feasible process, as it disclosed the encouraging values of return on investment (ROI) and net present values (NPV) for all scale-up capacities.

Improved Sustainability in Wine Industry Byproducts: A Scale-up and Economical Feasibility Study for High-Value Compounds Extraction Using Modified SC-CO2

“…The scale-up prediction was investigated for extraction vessels of 50, 100, 500, and 1000 L capacity, The volumetric mass transfer coefficients (k f a 0 ) determined through modeling of the experimental OACs data were correlated as a function of the dimensionless Reynolds number (Re). 46,82,83 Figure 5 shows the good correlation (R 2 = 0.9102) obtained. This result allowed to predict the mass transfer coefficients as a function of Re for scaling up.…”

“…The volumetric mass transfer coefficients ( k f a 0 ) determined through modeling of the experimental OACs data were correlated as a function of the dimensionless Reynolds number ( Re ). 46 , 82 , 83 …”

Opportunities and Challenges of Plant Bioactive Compounds for Food and Agricultural-Related Areas

“…Nevertheless, technological advances that promote large-scale production and generate high interest in the consumer market are demanded. Many of these strategies involve the action of ultrasound equipment, subcritical fluids, supercritical fluids, and enzyme-based extraction [27][28][29][30]. These technological advances promote higher concentrations than conventional methods such as Soxhlet extraction, maceration, and reflux methods, mainly due to the action of high pressures, temperatures and consequently, higher penetration of solvents into the plant matrix and prominent extraction of compounds [31].…”

Multifactor assessments to determine the overall performance of supercritical fluid extraction from Gynura procumbens essential oil

“…For example, a semi-polar co-solvent, such as ethanol, was introduced to enhance the overall quality of the yield 12 . To date, many researchers have incorporated water into the co-solvent to further enhance the extraction process 13 – 16 . Water can modify the structure of the matrix inside the sample due to its higher viscosity compared to that of CO 2 and ethanol and its lower solubility in CO 2 compared to that of ethanol 17 .…”