Extraction of Protodioscin from Tribulus terrestris-Optimisation of Kinetics and Modeling

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to establish the optimal conditions for protodioscin extraction from Tribulus terrestris plant and to investigate the possibilities of mathematical modeling of the process and calculation of the diffusion coefficients essential for the industrial scale-up and management of the extraction process. The kinetics of protodioscin extraction from Tribulus terrestris was experimentally studied at varying the solvent type (70% and 96% ethanol) and temperature (20�C, 30�C, 40�C). The optimal process conditions for these parameters were determined. The experimental results were mathematically modelled. Numerical solutions of the propsed in the study empirical model with constant and variable effective diffusivity in the solid phase, Deff, were obtained. The empirical model was based on comparative analyses with the Regular regime model solutions. It was established that the experimental data complied satisfactorily with the the resulting numerical solutions.