The effects of process parameters on the extraction of Ginkgo biloba L.
leaves with supercritical carbon dioxide were investigated. The investigated
parameters include particle size (mean particle diameter 0.19, 0.467 and
1.009 mm), solvent flow rate (1.5810-3, 3.2210-3 and 4.1610-3 kg CO2/min) and
pressure (100-300 bar), which were obtained by the response surface
methodology (RSM) under the following condition ranges: temperature
40-50-60?C, pressure 100-140-180 bar and extraction time of 2-3-4 h at the
flow rate of 3.2210-3 kg/min. Based on the experimental results of kinetics
of Ginkgo biloba leaves extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide,
modeling of the extraction system of Ginkgo biloba-supercritical CO2 was
done. Two mathematical models (Reverchon-Sesti Osseo and Sovov?) were applied
to correlate the experimental data. RSM was applied to optimize the process
parameters of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of Ginkgo biloba L.
leaves. A second-order polynomial response surface equation was developed
indicating the effect of variables on Ginkgo biloba extraction yield. The
statistical analysis of the experiment indicated that pressure (X1),
extraction time (X3), the quadratic of temperature (X22), and the interaction
between pressure and extraction time (X1X3), show significant effect on the
extraction yield. The results showed that the data were adequately fitted
into the second-order polynomial model. It was predicted that the optimum
extraction process parameters within the experimental ranges would be the
extraction temperature of 52.7?C, the pressure of 184.4 bar, and the
extraction time of 3.86 h. Under these conditions, the predicted extraction
yield is 2.39% (g/100 g drug).