Supercritical fluid extraction of vinblastine from Catharanthus roseus

Abstract Catharanthus roseus is a rich source of alkaloids, being two dimeric alkaloids extensively used as antineoplastic drugs, vinblastine and vincristine. In this work was performed an optimization of the supercritical fluid extraction of vinblastine from C. roseus using ethanol as co-solvent for CO 2 at different temperatures (40, 50, or 60 °C) and pressure equal to 300 bar. It was also evaluated the co-solvent ratio influence (2, 5 and 10% w/w). After HPLC/UV analysis the viability of this method of extraction was 92% more efficient for vinblastine extraction, when compared to traditional extraction methods such as solid-liquid extraction. The Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) was the explicit numerical method used in order to solve the one-dimensional diffusion-advection model, based on the differential mass balances written along the extraction bed. Regarding the parameter estimation, it was concluded that the axial dispersion term could be neglected from the mathematical model.