PROCESS OF ISOLATION OF LOVASTATIN FROM FERMENTATION BROTH

摘要

The solution relates to a process of isolation of lovastatin aimed at obtaining a product that complies with the pharmacopoeial criteria. This purpose is achieved by a process of isolation of lovastatin from the fermentation broth according to the invention the nature of which consists in that the harvested fermentation broth of lovastatin is adjusted to an alkaline pH value. The biomass is separated, and the filtrate containing the active component is extracted directly into the organic solvents of esters of carboxylic acids and alkanes in the presence of a cation-active or a non-ionic demulsifier in an acidic pH range. The rich organic extract of lovastatin obtained by using this process has high purity and no purification by chromatography is needed. The rich organic extract is subjected to vacuum distillation at a temperature above 40 DEG C in the presence of acetic acid whereby the lactone formed is concentrated. Crystallization takes place under cooling at 5 DEG C. The obtained crude product is recrystallized at an elevated temperature.