Effect of solvent selection and nozzle geometry on Curcuma mangga micronization process using supercritical antisolvent: Experiment and CFD simulation

In this study, ethanolic extracts of Curcuma mangga (C. mangga) were micronized using the supercritical antisolvent (SAS) method. Acetone, ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane were used as solvents to study the effects of solvent selection on the obtained particles. Supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) was used as the antisolvent. The effects of nozzle geometry (cross nozzle and T-nozzle) on particle size and morphology were also evaluated. Microparticles and submicron particles were successfully produced with particle sizes ranging from 0.202 ± 0.05 μm to 1.653 ± 0.89 μm. Of the three solvents, ethyl acetate produced smaller particle sizes with a narrow particle size distribution. For all the types of solvents used, micronized particles prepared with the cross-nozzle had smaller average particle sizes than with the T-nozzle. The smallest particles of mean size 0.202 ± 0.05 μm were achieved at 16 MPa and 313 K using ethyl acetate as the solvent and a cross-nozzle. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were successfully performed on the internal flow to study the turbulent flow and volume fraction inside the nozzle. The results of this are expected to help improve the applications of the active ingredients of C. mangga rhizomes in the pharmaceutical industry.