GRANULOMETRIC OPTIMIZATION AND SOLVENT CONCENTRATION FOR THE EXTRACTION OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL RAW MATERIAL ECHINACEA PURPUREA

The amount of the extract and the extraction of the main substances of the raw material Echinacea, is closely related to the degree of refining of the raw material as well as concentration of the solvent used for extraction. The optimal size of granules of the raw material first influences the extraction coefficient as well as in the development of the maceration and filtration process, this is because this raw material has a high extraction capacity, which is also accompanied by impurities of the extract after the maceration process, which complicates the filtration process. In order not to have this feature of the plant's raw material and make it possible to have a linear extraction, the raw material must have an optimal size of refining. The concentration of the solvent is also the main factor in the course of the maceration process and the increase of the extraction coefficient. For low concentrations of the solvent, a proper process of maceration, the high concentration of the solvent also causes the withdrawal of undesirable substances during maceration, and at the same time elimination of a quantity of main substances of the raw material Echinacea purpurea. Therefore, it is required an adequate concentration for maceration to be carried out without any difficulty and also not compromise the elimination of the main constituent substances, and on the other hand not to extract unwanted substances such as sugars and chlorophyll, which make the extract impure and complicate the technological process for obtaining the extract. It is required to choose a level of concentration of the solvent which creates good extraction capacities during maceration and during filtration, too. The solvent must have an optimal density to withdraw the filtered solution.