Regenerated Silica Gel for Isolation of Ethyl p-Methoxycinnamate from Kaempferia galanga rhizome

Abstract

The main component from Kaempferia galanga rhizome extract is known as ethyl p-methoxycinnamate. Column chromatography using silica gel is one of the commonly used method for obtaining high purity of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate from K. galanga rhizome extract. In this study, the regeneration of silica gel then utilized for checking its reusability to undergo the isolation of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate. The silica gel was regenerated by utilizing two methods: (a) the direct furnace at 600 ⁰C; (b) the stirring process with aqueous solution of sulfuric acid which followed by furnace at 600 ⁰C. K. galanga rhizome extract was obtained under maceration by hexane. Regenerated silica gel was characterized by XRF and FTIR. The ethyl p-methoxycinnamate content was determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The regenerated silica gel showed almost similar characteristic with the original commercial silica gel. The K. galanga rhizome extract after underwent column chromatography with regenerated silica gel showed high stability. This result ensured the utilization of regenerated silica gel can be considered for isolation of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate from K. galanga rhizome extract.