A laboratory study on extracting active ingredients from scrophularia striata boiss using ultrasound-assisted supercritical fluid extraction technique

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was adopted survey a novel method with the frequencies of 37 and 80 kHz and the power of 50–310 W in the supercritical extraction system to extracting ingredients from Scrophularia striata Boiss plant which include analgesics, bacteria, depression and infectious agents, using ultrasound-assisted supercritical CO2 fluid extraction (USC CO2) or supercritical CO2 fluid extraction (SC CO2) techniques at frequencies of 37 and 80 kHz, temperature of 45, 55 and 65 °C, and pressures of 150, 180, 210 bar. The ultrasonic technique is underpinned by the formation of high-frequency ultrasonic waves that can generate cavities. Such cavities cause disturbances in the cell walls of solid matrix, which facilitate the solvent penetration and mass transfer and thus increase the extraction yield. According to the results indicated a 24-percent increase in yield for the USC CO2 extraction technique at a frequency of 37 kHz, optimal pressure of 180 bar, and temperature of 65 °C, in comparison to the SC CO2 technique. Such an increase is acceptable given that the USC CO2 technique is relatively inexpensive and pro-environmental.