EXTRACTION

Extraction
Definition:-
“The removal of desired soluble material from an insoluble residue (crude drug),
either liquid or solid by treatment with a liquid solvent”.
 It is a solution process and depends on the mass transfer phenomena.

Crude Drug:-
Crude drug is vegetable or animal drug that has not been undergone processes
except collection, cleaning, drying.

Menstrum /Vehicle/Solvent:-
“Solvent used for the extraction is called Menstrum”.
 It should dissolve active constituent, maximum and inactive constituents,
minimum.
 Example:- Water, Glycerin, Ether etc.
Marc:-“The residue that remains following the extraction of active principles fro
m a vegetabledrug by means of a solvent.
Extract:-
A preparation containing the active principle or concentrated essence of
a materialORA solution of plant or animal tissue containing the active principle.

Methods of Extraction:-
Following are the methods:-
 Maceration
 Percolation
 Liquid-Liquid Extraction
 Large Scale Extraction

i-Maceration:-
The word maceration comes from the Latin Macerate, meaning, “to soak”.
Principle:-“Soaking”

Process:-
 Size Reduction of Crude Drug:-
In this step, the crude drug (only the specific part, not the whole of the
plant) in powdered form is placed in a wide mouth well stoppered container
(solvent system).
 Conditions:-
The mixture is allowed to stand with occasional agitation for an extended
period (2-14 days) at 15-20˚C.

 Softening of Crude drug:-

When mixture is mixed, menstrum penetrate into the cellular structures of
crude drug and softens the structure so that extraction may be possible.
 Filtration and separation:-
After sometime, the specific gravity of menstrum is increased and it is
settled down and system is filtered to remove the undissolved material. Then we
obtain filtrate as extract which contains maximum active drug and marc as
residue which contains inactive drug.
ii-Percolation:-
The word is derived from two Latin words i.e
Per  meaning  through
Colare  meaning  to stain
Principle:-
“Leaching”

Process:-
 Size reduction of Crude Drug:-
First the size of crude drug is reduced and it is taken in powdered form.
 Imbibition:-
Crude drug is uniformly moistened with menstrum for a period of 4 hours in a
separable vessel.
 Packing:-
 Crude drug is packed in percolator. A piece of filter paper is placed on
surface followed by a layer of clean sand, so that top layers of drugs are not
disturbed.
 Addition of Menstrum:-
Sufficient menstrum is poured slowly over the drug and to saturate it
evenly, keeping the tap at bottom open for passing of occluded gas to pass out.
 Maceration:-
Sufficient menstrum is also added to maintain a small layer above the drug
and allowed to stand for 24 hours.
 Percolation:-
After maceration, the outlet is opened and solvent is percolated at a control
rate with continuous addition of fresh solvent.
 Collection:-
75% volume of finished product is collected. Mark is presses and extract is added
to percolator again giving 80% to 90% of finished product.
iii- Liquid-Liquid Extraction:-
Definition:-
“It is a mass transfer operation in which a liquid solution (feed phase) is contacted
with an immiscible or nearly immiscible liquid (solvent phase) that exhibit
preferential affinity or selectivity toward one or more of the components in feed
phase”.

Feed phase/Raffinate:-
The phase which contains less quantity of active drug.
Solvent phase/Extract:-
The phase which contains maximum amount of active drug.

Principle:-
“Partition / Distribution Law”
 Distribution Law:-
Whenever a drug is supplied to a system having two immiscible liquids
(drug is soluble in both) then ratio of distribution of drug is always constant.

 Formula:-
Distribution law= Mass fraction of solute in extract phase
Mass fraction of solute in Raffinate phase

Process:-
 In this process, the active substance is in the liquid and we have to extract it
from liquid.
 Two menstrum systems:-
System consists of two menstrum i.e feed phase (raffinate phase) and solvent
phase and both these are immiscible but purpose of mixing is that maximum area
should be in contact.
 Transfer of Active Ingredient:-
When system is agitated, both the liquids are broken into globules and
active ingredient is passed from feed phase to solvent phase.
 Removal and addition of Fresh Solvent Phase:-
 Now remove the solvent of solvent phase and pour fresh solvent because
the first solvent has been used to its full capacity and no further active
ingredient is passing from feed phase to solvent phase.
 For new solvent, again the distribution law is operative but as the amount
of active ingredient in feed phase is less, therefore, less mass transfer of
active ingredient from feed phase to solvent phase. Ultimately, the
amount of active drug goes on decreasing in feed phase.
iv-Large Scale extraction:-
For extraction process on large scale, we use following methods:-
 Recirculation Method
 Multistage Extraction
 Continuous Extraction
 Recirculation Method:-
The efficiency of extraction in a maceration process can be
improved by arranging for the solvent to be continuously circulated through the
drug.
 Process:-
 Crude drug is taken in powdered form in large tank and it is packed.
 Continuously solvent is being added.
 At the bottom of tank we have perforated layer which prevents the fall of
drug but allows the solvent mixture to pass.
 The solvent is pumped from bottom of the tank to inlet where it is
distributed again through spray nozzles and again solvent mixture passes
through the perforated layer.
 Multistage Extraction:-
The equipment used for this method is a vessel for drug, circulating pump, spray
distributers and number of tanks to receive the extracted solution. The extractor
and tanks are connected via piping and valves so that any one of the tank may be
connected to the extractor for the transfer of solution.
 Process:-
 Fill extractor with drug and solvent and circulate. Run off to receiver 1.
 Refill extractor with solvent and circulate. Run off to receiver 2.
 Refill extractor with solvent and circulate. Run off to receiver 3.
 Remove drug from extractor. Return solution from 1 to extractor. Remover
for evaporation.
 Return solution from 2 to extractor and circulate. Run off to receiver 1.
 Return solution from 3 to extractor and circulate. Run off to receiver 2.
 Add fresh solvent to extractor and circulate. Run off to receiver 3.
 Remove drug from extractor and repeat cycle.

In this process drug is treated with solvent several times. And during the cycle,
the receiver contain solution with concentrated in receiver 1 and dilute in receiver
3.
 Continuous Extraction:-

 Apparatus:-Soxhlet Apparatus.
 Process:-
 Crude drug is treated with menstrum and allowed to stand for sometime
(2-14 ) days.
 Drug solution is collected in the receiver.
 Then solution is heated, leaving behind drug.
 Vapours of menstrum are taken to the tank where they are condensed and
collected again on the surface of crude drug.
 By repeating the same solvent, extraction process is carried out.