METHOD FOR THE ISOLATION OF LOVASTATIN FROM DEPLETED FERMENTATION CULTURE MEDIUM

摘要

The solution relates to a process of isolation of lovastatin aimed at obtaining a product that complies with the pharmacopoei al criteria. This purpose is achieved by a process of isolation o f lovastatin from the fermentation broth according to the inventi on the nature of which consists in that the harvested fermentatio n broth of lovastatin is adjusted to an alkaline pH value. The bi omass is separated, and the filtrate containing the active compon ent is extracted directly into the organic solvents of esters of carboxylic acids and alkanes in the presence of a cation-active o r a non-ionic demulsifier in an acidic pH range. The rich organic extract of lovastatin obtained by using this process has high pu rity and no purification by chromatography is needed. The rich or ganic extract is subjected to vacuum distillation at a temperatur e above 40 C in the presence of acetic acid whereby the lactone formed is concentrated. Crystallization takes place under cooling at 5 C. The obtained crude product is recrystallized at an elev ated temperature.