Process intensification approach for preparation of curcumin nanoparticles via solvent–nonsolvent nanoprecipitation using spinning disc reactor

• Preparation of curcumin nano particles in a spinning disc reactor.
• Significant impact of flow rate, S-AS ratio, curcumin concentration and protecting agent concentration on particle size.
• Particles were characterized by using XRD, FT-IR, DSC and SEM.
• Average particles size was obtained in the range 180–240 nm.

Continuous preparation of curcumin nanoparticles via solvent–nonsolvent (S-NS) precipitation by using spinning disc reactor was investigated. The process intensification by spinning disc reactor (SDR) along with the comparative study of conventional mechanical agitated contactor was carried out. Solvent used for curcumin precipitation in this study was ethanol whereas non-solvent deionised water. Influences of various operating parameters for spinning disc process; such as flow rate of S-NS, S-NS ratio, concentration of curcumin, disc characteristics, concentration of protecting agent and rotating disc speed were examined on the nanoparticles size. The average optimum curcumin particles size was obtained in the range 180–220 nm in consideration with particles size distribution at a flow rate of 200 mL min−1; curcumin concentration of 0.5 g L−1 in ethanol; polyvinylpyrilodine (PVP) concentration of 1 g L−1 in deionised water; S:NS ratio 1:4 and operating disc speed of 1500 rpm. Particles were characterized by using XRD, FT-IR, DSC and SEM which showed decrease in the crystallinity after the nanoprecipitation of curcumin. The dissolution rates of the fabricated curcumin nanoparticle were found drastically higher than original curcumin.