Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

Published in

American Chemical Society, Crystal Growth and Design, 1(14), p. 58-68, 2013

DOI: 10.1021/cg401068n

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

A New Microcrystalline Phytosterol Polymorph Generated Using CO2-Expanded Solvents

This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
  • Must obtain written permission from Editor
  • Must not violate ACS ethical Guidelines
Orange circle
Postprint: archiving restricted
  • Must obtain written permission from Editor
  • Must not violate ACS ethical Guidelines
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Phytosterols have been receiving increasing attention due to their demonstrated health benefits. Micronization of phytosterol particles is desirable to enhance their physiological efficacy. Utilization of the environmentally friendly compressed fluid-based technology, called Depressurization of an Expanded Liquid Organic Solution (DELOS) was investigated to micronize a phytosterol mixture. A new polymorph of β-sitosterol, which was more crystalline than the native form, was obtained from the DELOS process regardless of the process conditions. In addition, particle size was reduced by an order of magnitude. The crystal structure of the new polymorph was determined from X-ray powder diffraction data. The proposed crystal structure for β-sitosterol, which contains a number of nearly isosteric vicariant molecules of lower molecular weight (mostly campesterol and campestanol, accounting in a crystalline solid-solution for nearly 10% of the molecular mixture) allows the presence of small cavities, in which some residual solvent molecules are temporarily trapped. Further structural analysis of the new and native polymorphs were performed by laser diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray powder diffraction. Findings of the study provide a route to obtain nutraceutical products that might show enhanced functional properties.