Extraction of Piperine from Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) by Aqueous Solutions of Surfactant and Surfactant + Hydrotrope Mixtures

Abstract

The effect of combining butyl benzene sulfonate as hydrotrope with a surfactant in aqueous solutions is investigated for isolation of piperine, an alkaloid, from black pepper. The standard free energy change associated with piperine solubilization in the aqueous solutions of surfactant and hydrotrope individually and in their mixtures is determined from the solubility of piperine in these solutions. A combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the hydrotrope gives increased percentage extraction of piperine as compared to the hydrotrope alone. The piperine purity recovered from aqueous solutions was higher as compared to the purity of piperine recovered using organic solvents. The piperine crystallized from aqueous solutions of surfactants and hydrotrope also showed cleaner surfaces and uniform structures with sharp edges, unlike the particles crystallized from organic solvents.