Assessment of a method for the isolation of phenolic substances by cross-linked insoluble polymers

Abstract

Cellulofines or Toyo Pearls were suspended in an acidic solution containing an equivalent amount of nine different polyphenolics and their trapping rates for the test compounds evaluated. The average specific rate of Cellulofmes was 2.82 nmol phenol·(mg polymer)−1 ·min−1, while that of Toyo Pearls was slightly higher, 3.05 nmol·mg−1-min−1. A clear difference in the affinity for saffron dyes and other polyphenolics was found between Cellulofines and Toyo Pearls. Cellulofines attracted saffron dyes at the rate of 3.86 nmol·mg−1 ·min−1 and polyphenolics at 1.99 nmol·mg−1min−1. The corresponding values for Toyo Pearls were also trapped both showing the specific values of 4.65 and 1.78 nmol·mg−1·min−1, respectively. Among the polyphenolics tested, carthamin was taken up by these polymers most prominently as shown for cellulose anionexchangers and Sephadex gels [Saito et al. (1991) Z Lebensm Unters Forsch 192: in press]. To confirm the model data practically, tests for selective trapping were carried out by using QAE-cellulose and Toyo Pearl HW-40f with dyer's saffron extracts. Both polymers adsorbed endogenous substances of different types very effectively. An entrapped pigment was recovered from QAE-cellulose by aqueous acid acetone mixture and analyzed spectroscopically to identify it by comparison with an authentic standard. Finally, the utility of the newly established method is discussed.