Hygia Institute Of Pharmacy
Ghaila Road, Prabandh Nagar, Faizullaganj,
Lucknow
Topic :- Conventional Extraction Methods: Ultrasonic
Extraction and Supercritical Fluid Extraction(SFE)
Subject :- Phytomedicine
Roll No :- 2208950500003
Under Supervision Of :- Mr Vineet Gupta
Submitted By :- Abdul Wahid { [Link] Final Year }
Content
● Introduction to Extraction
● Conventional Extraction
● Ultrasonic Extraction (UE)
● Principle & Mechanism
● Advantages & Disadvantages
● Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE)
● Principle & Supercritical Fluids
● Advantages & Disadvantages
● Conclusion & Comparison
● References
Extraction is a process used to
separate a desired substance from a
solid or liquid material.
What is ● In pharmacy, we use extraction to
Extraction? get the active compounds (like
alkaloids, glycosides, etc.) from
plants.
● These compounds are then used to
make medicines.
Conventional Extraction
Methods
● These are the traditional, time-consuming
methods.
● They rely on solvents and heat for a long time.
● Examples:
○ Maceration: Soaking the plant material
in a solvent for a period of time.
○ Percolation: The solvent flows slowly
through the material to extract
compounds.
○ Soxhlet Extraction: A continuous
process using a special apparatus.
Ultrasonic Extraction (UE)
● What is it? It uses sound waves to help extract compounds from a material.
● The process uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) usually above 20
kHz.
● It is a fast and efficient method, often used as an alternative to traditional
methods.
Principle of UE: Cavitation
● The main principle is Acoustic Cavitation.
● When ultrasound waves travel through a liquid solvent, they create tiny
bubbles.
● These bubbles grow and then violently collapse.
Mechanism of UE
1. Bubble Formation: Ultrasound waves create low and high-pressure cycles. Tiny
bubbles form during the low-pressure cycle.
2. Bubble Collapse: During the high-pressure cycle, these bubbles collapse with
great force.
3. Effect: This collapse creates tiny jets and shockwaves. These forces break the
plant cell walls, helping the solvent to reach and dissolve the target compounds
faster.
Advantages of UE
● Faster Process: Reduces extraction time from hours to minutes.
● Energy Efficient: Uses less energy compared to heating-based methods.
● Low Temperature: Can be done at room temperature, which protects
heat-sensitive compounds from degradation.
● High Yield: Often results in a higher amount of the desired compound.
● Safe: No toxic solvents are needed, making it a safer process.
Disadvantages of UE
● Potential for Degradation: The high energy can sometimes degrade delicate
compounds if not controlled properly.
● Small Scale: It's often used for small-scale lab extractions, not large-scale
industrial processes.
● Equipment Cost: The initial cost of the ultrasonic equipment can be high.
Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE)
● What is it? This method uses a special type of solvent called a "supercritical
fluid."
● This solvent can dissolve compounds like a liquid but can also easily penetrate
materials like a gas.
● The most common supercritical fluid is Carbon Dioxide (CO2 ).
What is a
Supercritical Fluid?
● A substance becomes a supercritical
fluid when its temperature and
pressure are above its "critical
point."
● At this point, the difference between
its liquid and gas phases disappears.
It has properties of both.
● For CO2 , the critical point is 31.1
∘C and 73.8 bar.
Principle of SFE
● A gas (like CO2) is compressed and heated above its critical point.
● It becomes a supercritical fluid, a powerful solvent.
● The fluid flows through the plant material and dissolves the desired
compounds.
Advantages of SFE
● No Solvent Residue: The CO2 gas simply evaporates, leaving no harmful
solvent behind.
● High Purity: The extracted compound is very pure, which is great for medicine.
● Tunable Selectivity: By changing the pressure and temperature, you can
selectively extract different compounds.
● Non-Toxic: CO2 is safe and non-flammable.
Disadvantages of SFE
● High Cost: The equipment is very expensive to buy and operate.
● High Pressure: The process requires very high pressure, which can be
dangerous.
● Technical Complexity: Requires skilled operators and complex controls.
Comparison
Conclusion
● Conventional Extraction is a classic, simple method, but it can be slow and may
harm some important compounds.
● Ultrasonic Extraction (UE) is a much faster and more efficient modern method
that uses sound waves to get better results.
● Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) is an advanced, clean, and highly specific
method perfect for getting very pure compounds, though it is more expensive.
● In simple words, the best extraction method for a particular plant or compound
is like choosing the right tool for a job. You must consider the cost, speed, and
purity of the final product.
References
● Wang, L., & Weller, C. L. (2006). Recent advances in extraction of nutraceuticals from plants.
Trends in Food Science & Technology, 17(6), 300-312.
● Chemat, F., Huma, Z., & Khan, M. K. (2011). Applications of ultrasound in food technology:
Processing, preservation and extraction. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 18(4), 813-835.
● Herrero, M., Cifuentes, A., & Ibanez, E. (2006). Sub- and supercritical fluid extraction of
functional ingredients from natural sources: Twenty years of research. Food Chemistry, 98(2),
269-278.
Thank You.