Assessment of solid–liquid equilibrium behavior and thermodynamic analysis of natural plant extracts artemisinin (Form I) in twelve mono-solvents

Abstract

Solid-liquid equilibrium solubility of artemisinin (ART) Form I in twelve mono-solvents namely N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF), oxolane (THF), n-propanol (NPA), 4-methylpentan-2-one (MIBK), ethyl formate (EF), butyl acetate (BAC), 2-ethoxyethanol (EGEE), 1,4-Dioxane, 2-methoxyethanol (EGME), 2-propoxyethanol (EGPE), propyl acetate (NPAC) and 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE) from 283.15 K to 323.15 K were determined by a laser dynamic method under 0.1 MPa. The minimum solubility of ART (Form I) was found in NPA at 283.15 K (0.004541), the maximum mole fraction solubility of ART (Form I) was observed as 0.2523 in DMF at 323.15 K. At the temperature of 298.15 K, the experimental mole fraction solubility order of ART Form I in the tested solvents was DMF (0.1559) > 1,4-Dioxane (0.09117) > THF (0.08301) > MIBK (0.05054) > EF (0.04902) > NPAC (0.03860) > BAC (0.03658) > EGME (0.02031) > EGEE (0.01859) > EGPE (0.01817) > EGBE (0.01689) > NPA (0.007185). The solubility behavior was computationally correlated by Margules model, Wilson model, NRTL model, NRTL-SAC model, Buchowski-Ksiazczak λh model and UNIQUAC model, the total RMSD was no>0.025 in the selected models. With the help of Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) analysis, molecular similarities of ART (Form I) in twelve mono-solvents were investigated. Besides, Hirschfeld surface analysis (HSs) was considered to evaluate the intermolecular interaction of artemisinin. Moreover, thermodynamic properties including ΔmixH, ΔmixG, ΔmixS, lnγ1, lnγ1∞ of ART (Form I) in the selected solvents were estimated. All the negative ΔmixG and positive ΔmixS values indicated that the mixing process were spontaneous and entropy-increasing.