Application of supercritical fluid extraction in the pharmaceutical industry: supercritical fluid extraction of megestrol acetate from a tablet matrix

Abstract

The factors that influence the extraction of megestrol acetate from a tablet formulation are discussed. A comparison of the Hewlett-Packard HP7680A and a Jasco supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) system is made. Under similar conditions the HP7680A provides a complete recovery of analyte whereas the Jasco system is prone to analyte loss after depressurization. It is proposed that different SFE methods be compared using the number of cell volumes swept as the criterion of importance. A direct comparison of SFE with a United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph method for the analysis of megestrol acetate from tablet formulations has been investigated. Overall, the USP method provided more precise and accurate determinations for the determination of megestrol acetate from a tablet matrix.