Solid–liquid extraction of protopine from Fumaria officinalis L.—Kinetic modelling of influential parameters

The influences of such parameters as percentage of ethanol in solvent, solid–liquid weight ratio and pH of medium on the protopine extraction from Fumaria officinalis particles with mean radius of 0.4–0.5 mm was studied. A mathematical model, describing the importance of each parameter on the extraction of protopine with pseudo-second-order kinetics was proposed and the results were discussed. A numerical solution was obtained, which was compared with the experimental data for the increase in protopine concentration in the liquid phase. A satisfactory fit with experimental data was observed.