Steroids / Hormones

Steroids are endogenous hormones such as the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone or the hormones of the adrenal cortex, cortisol and aldosterone. Their significance for the metabolism means that steroid hormones are also very important in medicine, where they are used for hormone therapy as well as in antirheumatic, antiarthritic and muscle-building preparations. Support in obtaining them efficiently is provided by extraction decanters from GEA Westfalia Separator.

Virtually all steroids are based on cholesterol. In the human body, steroid hormones are synthesized in the endocrine glands and transported to target tissue by the blood. In the target cells, they dock with highly-specific receptors and perform a key function in the formation of proteins. In order to produce steroid hormones for pharmaceutical applications outside the body, we use direct extraction from special nutrient solutions.

In continuous direct extraction from GEA Westfalia Separator, the fermented nutrient solution is treated by liquid-liquid extraction or in a counter-current process. Following precipitation, concentration, crystallization and drying of the extract, the steroid hormones are available in the form of a raw salt and can be correspondingly processed by the pharmaceutical industry.