Abstract
The possibility for simultaneous controlled partition of the biologically active alkaloid S-(+)-glaucine, presented in a crude ionic liquid-aqueous plant extract, and separation of the ionic liquid (IL) employed by means of ionic liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems (IL-ABS) was investigated in this study. The ABS were formed by the addition of inorganic salts with distinct water-structuring properties such as Na2CO3, MgSO4, (NH4)2SO4, and NaH2PO4 to an enriched of glaucine extract of Glaucium flavum Cr. (Papaveraceae). The influence of the salt type and concentration on the phase-forming ability, as well as the pH value on the partition of glaucine between the two phases formed, was comprehensively studied. It was found that the target alkaloid is predominantly transferred into the IL-rich phase, regardless the influential factors. The results obtained were further used as a platform for the development of an improved extractive procedure, ensuring simultaneous glaucine recovery, IL recycling and water removal in a single technological step. Thus, based on the formation of a three-phase system consisting of butyl acetate, IL-rich phase, and salt-rich phase, nearly quantitative recovery of glaucine (>99%), IL recycling (ca. 90%), and water removal (ca. 85%) were achieved by salt-induced separation of the crude plant extract.
Highlights
Recent requirements for the development of green and sustainable technologies constantly increase the interest in research aiming at the substitution of volatile, toxic and flammable conventional molecular solvents with more benign ones [1]
We were interested in exploring an alternative possibility for its recovery from the crude plant extract by means of ionic liquid (IL)-based aqueous two-phase systems (IL-ABS)
It was recently shown that aqueous solutions of hydrophilic ILs can be switched into IL-based aqueous biphasic systems (IL-ABS) by introduction of an inorganic salt with certain water-structuring properties [27]
Summary
Recent requirements for the development of green and sustainable technologies constantly increase the interest in research aiming at the substitution of volatile, toxic and flammable conventional molecular solvents with more benign ones [1]. ILs have proved to be efficient solvents for the recovery of a vast number of natural products from plant materials [4,5], providing enhanced extraction yields and significant reduction of the solvent consumption and extraction times in all cases. It is noteworthy, that the majority of the studies had been focused on the initial solid-liquid extraction step and neither have attempts for IL recycling—an important issue that addresses the economics of their use—have been undertaken, nor have approaches for isolation of the target compounds in pure form at the end of the process been offered. The lack of systematic studies on the above issues suggests that additional investigations for the establishment of some general rules for the isolation of different classes of natural compounds from IL-based plant extracts have to be performed
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