Key words: levofloxacin, solubility, supercritical carbon dioxide, supercritical trifluoromethane
The solubility of levofloxacin (LFC) in supercritical carbon dioxide and trifluoromethane was measured in the pressure range 10—30 MPa at temperatures of 323 K and 373 K. Solubility was determined by changing the weight of the LFC powder held in the supercritical fluid (SC) at given temperature and pressure. The obtained solubility value of LFC in SC-trifluoromethane reaches a value (8.3 ± 0.3) · 10-5 mole fractions at 30 MPa and 373 K. Solubility of LFC in SC-trifluoromethane at a pressure of 30 MPa and a temperature of 323 K ((55.7 ± 0.3) · 10-6 mole fractions), almost by an order of magnitude exceeds the solubility in SC carbon dioxide ((5.9 ± 0.3) · 10-6 under the same conditions. The obtained results are the basis for further development and optimization of processes of supercritical fluid micronization of LFC and other antibiotics of fluoroquinolone group without partici pation of liquid co-solvent.
doi:10.34984/SCFTP.2021.16.2.003