Advanced Extraction Technology from U.K. Licensed to R.C.

Costello

Development & Mfg

Packaging & Protection

Quality

Pharma Logistics

Editorial Board

News
| August 6, 1999

Advanced Extraction Technology from U.K.

Licensed to R.C. Costello
Contents
Introduction
Solid-Liquid Extraction
Continuous Liquid-Liquid Extraction
Resin Manufacture/Regeneration

Introduction (Back to Top)

R.C. Costello & Associates (Redondo Beach, CA) has become the North American licensor of advanced
phytonics, a novel extraction technology developed by U.K.-based Advanced Phytonics Ltd. Advanced
Phytonics (AP) uses nonflammable solvents called phytosols, at low pressure, to extract selective
compounds from pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, and botanical preparations. Target markets include
drugs, nutraceuticals, biotechnology, hydrocarbons, chemicals, and wastewater.

Phytosols are nothing more than non-chlorinated fluorohydrocarbonsenvironmentally friendly

refrigerant gaseswhich Advanced Phytonics has been pushing as economically viable alternatives to
conventional organic solvents and supercritical carbon dioxide.

Costello claims phytosols and the AP process has "major advantages" over organic solvents since it is
non-flammable, non-toxic, non-corrosive, odorless, inert, and highly selective. Phytosols are easily
modified by adding cosolvents, and their low boiling points minimize thermal degradation and the loss of
volatile compounds during isolation.

The main advantage over over supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) is lower equipment costs, since high
pressure equipment is not required. The other principal benefit is a much lower working pressures for
liquefication. For example tetrafluoroethane, a phytosol, liquefies at 5 bar gauge, while SCCO2 is only
useful as a solvent at pressures well in excess of 100 bar gauge. Low working pressures also translate into

http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/advanced-extraction-technology-from-uk-licens-0001[06/04/2016 10:32:44]

Advanced Extraction Technology from U.K. Licensed to R.C. Costello

lower operating costs. Also, unlike CO2 phytosols do not form acids when exposed to water.
Solid-Liquid Extraction (Back to Top)

Components for solid-liquid extraction using phytosols are familiar to most chemical engineers: a stirred
extraction vessel or an extraction column, evaporation/collection vessel, gas compressor and heat
exchanger. Phytosol is evaporated with the aid of a gas compressor, re-liquefied and passed through the
medium, which can be either a stirred batch or a packed column. Phytosol rich in product (or
contaminant) passes through an inline filter into the evaporation vessel. By carrying out this operation
continuously, only a small inventory of phytosol is required. At the end of the extraction, Phytosol flow is
redirected into a storage cylinder and the extracted material is recovered from the evaporator.

The AP process using phytosols has been used for extraction of essential oils and biologically active
compounds from solid botanical materials. According to Costello such extracts show enhanced biological
activity compared with conventional extracts. Data is on file at Costello's for extraction of anti-oxidants,
cytotoxic agents, and an anti-infective.

Phytosol liquid-liquid extraction may be used to remove trace impurities from final drug products. For
example, amoxycillin and ampicillin with dichloromethane contents of up to 0.2% have been successfully
and easily decontaminated.
Continuous Liquid-Liquid Extraction (Back to Top)

http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/advanced-extraction-technology-from-uk-licens-0001[06/04/2016 10:32:44]

Advanced Extraction Technology from U.K. Licensed to R.C. Costello

Phytosols work similarly for continuous extraction. Components shown above include an extraction
column, treated aqueous collection vessel, evaporation/ isolation vessel, gas compressor and a heat
exchanger. Phytosol is continuously evaporated, re-liquefied and recycled through the column in a downflow mode. When steady state is attained, rich aqueous stream is introduced through the column in a
counter current fashion. The now rich Phytosol continues to be fed into the evaporation vessel,
evaporated (distilled) and re-liquefied. A multi-vessel design enables the process to be run in a
continuous fashion. Alternatively, efficient extraction can be achieved using a centrifugal mixer/
separator. Podbielniak equipment has been successfully used in a variety of applications. This has proved
extremely useful in cases where the morphology of the aqueous stream may inhibit efficient phase
separation.

Liquid-liquid applications of the process include:

Removal of organic solvents from aqueous process or effluent streams. For example butyl acetate,
used for the extraction of phenylacetic acid post de-acylation of benzyl penicillin, is effectively
removed from the aqueous 6-aminopenicillin solution.
Extraction of metabolites from clarified or mobile fermentation broths. Examples of metabolites
successfully extracted are pleuromutilin and milbemycin.
Resin Manufacture/Regeneration (Back to Top)

Manufacturers of polymeric adsorbent resins must remove trace chemicals from their products before
shipping them. Similarly, users need to clean up resins between runs. According to Costello, phytosols
can be used for both applications, avoiding the need for hot methanol/water treatment post-manufacture
or of caustic agents between uses. This application has been demonstrated for removal of phenol and
dichloromethane from a polymeric resin (Purolite Macronet) and toluene from activated carbon (Carbon
Link SI 1).
R.C. Costello & Assoc., Inc. provides engineering design and construction services, environmental
engineering services, and process safety services to the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and oil & gas
industries.

For more information: Rocky Costello, President, R.C. Costello & Associates Consulting Engineers, 1611
S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 210, Redondo, Beach, CA 90277. Tel: 310-792-5870. Fax: 310-792-5877.

http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/advanced-extraction-technology-from-uk-licens-0001[06/04/2016 10:32:44]

Advanced Extraction Technology from U.K. Licensed to R.C. Costello

Email: rcca@rccostello.com.
By Angelo DePalma
Like what you are reading?

Sign up for our free newsletter

SIGN ME
ME UP
SIGN
UP

By clicking Sign Me Up, you agree to our Terms

and that you have read our Privacy Policy.

Marketing
Request Media Kit
Article Reprints
Ad Specifications

Life Science Connect

BioProcess Online
Biosimilar Development
Clinical Leader
Drug Discovery
Laboratory Network
Med Device Online
OutsourcedPharma
Life Science Leader Magazine

Events & Training

Life Science Training Institute
Outsourced Pharma West

About Us
Contact Us

http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/advanced-extraction-technology-from-uk-licens-0001[06/04/2016 10:32:44]

Advanced Extraction Technology from U.K. Licensed to R.C. Costello

Who We Are
Copyright 1996-2016 VertMarkets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use.
Privacy Statement.

http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/advanced-extraction-technology-from-uk-licens-0001[06/04/2016 10:32:44]