Precipitation of Piperine from Hydrotropic Solutions: Study of Crystal Nucleation and Growth Kinetics from Batch Experiments

ABSTRACT

Precipitation of piperine from aqueous hydrotropic solutions of sodium cumene sulfonate was investigated in a laboratory-scale agitated vessel by cooling aqueous sodium cumene sulfonate solution saturated with piperine from 353K to 303K. This temperature swing is a more economical approach than usual dilution by water for recovery of piperine from hydrotrope solutions. The time evolution of crystal size distribution was used to deduce simultaneously crystal nucleation and growth kinetics. The results indicate higher nucleation and slower crystal growth rates and thus formation of very fine crystals of piperine in the range of 1–400 μm.

Key Words::

• Piperine
• Hydrotropy
• Sodium cumene sulfonate
• Nucleation kinetics
• Crystal growth
• Piper nigrum