Extraction of pharmaceuticals using pressurised carbon dioxide

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Green Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) offers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional extraction methods.
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a versatile solvent for extracting various compounds due to its tunable properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the applications of super- and sub-critical carbon dioxide for pharmaceutical extraction.
• To discuss the challenges and potential of CO2 extraction for diverse matrices and polar analytes.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on pharmaceutical extraction using supercritical and sub-critical carbon dioxide.
• Analysis of extraction efficiency across different matrices (animal feed, formulations, biological, miscellaneous).
• Discussion of solvent modifiers and sample pre-treatment techniques for various matrices.

Main Results:

• Super- and sub-critical CO2 are applicable for pharmaceutical extraction from solid and liquid matrices.
• Polar modifiers are often necessary to enhance the extraction of polar pharmaceuticals.
• Sample pre-treatment varies depending on matrix type, with grinding for solids and adsorption/immobilization for liquids.

Conclusions:

• Pressurized carbon dioxide shows significant potential for effective pharmaceutical recovery.
• The choice of matrix, analyte polarity, and extraction conditions are critical for successful CO2 extraction.
• Further research into modified CO2 extraction systems can optimize recovery for a wider range of pharmaceuticals.