Liquid Extraction Research Articles

Pressurized liquid extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of beta-ecdysone extracted from Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen

Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen has among its main bioactive compounds saponins, with the phytoestroid β-ecdysone as its chemical marker. In this study, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), a green extraction technique used to obtain bioactive compounds from plants, was employed to extract beta-ecdysone from P. glomerata leaves, stems, and roots. The 22 factorial design was used with the variables temperature (333 K and 353 K) and flow rate (1.5 and 2 mL min−1), pressure (300 Bar), time (60 min), and solvent [ethanol and distilled water (70:30 (v/v)] were kept constant for all parts of the plant. The results of experimental responses demonstrated that the factors temperature and flow rate significantly interfere with the yields of leaf (0.499%), root (0.65%) and stem (0.764%) extracts. The latter presented presents the highest yield compared to the other parts of the plant. HPLC results showed the presence of beta-ecdysone in all parts of the plant with concentrations of β-ecdysone 86.82, 76.53 and 195.86 mg L−1 to leaf, root and stem, respectively. FT Raman results exhibited typical peaks of beta-ecdysone, such as 3310 cm−1, 1654 cm−1, and 1073 cm−1 for all plant parts. Another interesting result was the presence of the peak at 1460 cm−1 in the PLE root extract can be associated with selenium. This foundational knowledge confirms that the PLE extraction process was efficient in obtaining the chemical marker of Pfaffia glomerata in all plant parts.

Advanced and Potential Methods for Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Avocado Peel—A Review

Extraction techniques are continuously developed by the scientific community. Meanwhile, avocado peel is a by-product of avocado processing and a source of bioactive compounds. The purpose of this review was to summarize the use of advanced techniques for extracting bioactive compounds from avocado peel to help understand which techniques have and have not been applied to avocado peel. Three primary databases were used to collect the information, including Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, by using the keywords “avocado”, “peel”, and “extraction”. Additional keywords related to the extraction technique were also used, including “Microwave-Assisted Extraction”, “Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction”, “Enzyme-Assisted Extraction”, “Pressurized Liquid Extraction”, “Supercritical Fluid Extraction”, “Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents”, “Three-phase partitioning (TPP)”, “Pulsed-Electric Field”, “High Voltage Electric Discharge Plasma”, “Centrifugal Partition Extraction”, and “Surfactant-Mediated Extraction”. The results show that microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, TPP, and natural deep eutectic solvent extraction have been used to retrieve bioactive compounds from avocado peel. Other techniques have not yet been applied for the extraction of bioactive compounds from avocado peel. This article is the first review discussing the advanced extraction technique for retrieving bioactive compounds from avocado peel. This article creates a paradigm for future studies.

Bioprospecting Hypoxylon fendleri for pigment production and assessment of its dyeing efficacy on silk fabric

Fungal dyes are promising natural source of pigment for the textile industry due to their environmentally friendly production process. The present study evaluated the efficacy of buffy brown pigment extracted from Hypoxylon fendleri for dyeing silk fabric following fungal identification using morphological features coupled with sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region. The physiochemical parameters namely, pH, temperature, and incubation time along with glucose and peptone concentrations were optimized for in vitro pigment production using the desirability function. A pH of 7 at 28 °C temperature, 75 g/L glucose and 10 g/L peptone with an incubation time of 17 d was found to be optimum with a desirability value of 0.56. The chromatic properties of the dyed fabric were characterized on the basis of CIELAB coordinates. The fastness of color produced on silk fabric was assessed using standard tests for washing, perspiration, and rubbing fastness. Finally, the dye (pigmented liquid extract) obtained from H. fendleri showed good and uniform dyeing properties on silk fabric and could be an alternative natural source for dyeing silk fabric. Moreover, the use of natural dyes will aid in mitigating the hazardous environmental impacts of the synthetic dyeing industry.

Extraction of polyphenols and antioxidant compounds from SCOBY, as a by-product of Kombucha, using different types of extraction

Kombucha is obtained through a symbiosis fermentation of bacteria and yeast, generating a floating film called SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). After a period of use, SCOBY becomes a production waste. Thus, alternative uses of SCOBY can add value to Kombucha production. In this way, this work aimed to produce and evaluate antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of SCOBY ethanolic extracts, which were obtained by two different solid–liquid extraction with three different waste weight/extractor solvent volume ratios. The SCOBY evaluated had a high concentration of cellulose (9.42 ± 1.00%) and low concentrations of proteins (0.84 ± 0.04%) and lipids (0.29 ± 0.05%). All evaluated extracts showed a high concentration of total phenolics (40.7–64.3 mg GAE/100 g of SCOBY) and high antioxidant activity (ABTS•+, FRAP and ORAC assays). The most efficient extraction of bioactive compounds was obtained by decoction using the highest solvent volume (ratio 1:20). The PCA showed clusters of the samples both by the type of extraction and by the different ratios of the weight of SCOBY to the solvent volume. Of our knowledge, our work is the first in the literature that describes such data. Therefore, the present work showed the possibility of using this industrial waste mainly to obtain active compounds and antioxidants.

Separation of 2-ethoxyethanol from wastewater by four esters: Correlation of LLE thermodynamic modeling, influence of molecular structure, and investigation of component interactions

To prevent the wastewater containing 2-ethoxyethanol (2EE) from causing environmental pollution and economic waste, liquid–liquid extraction was used to recover 2-ethoxyethanol from wastewater in this study. The liquid–liquid equilibrium behavior of water + 2-ethoxyethanol + four solvents (propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, and isobutyl acetate) was investigated at 303.2 K and atmospheric pressure. The distribution coefficient (D) and separation factor (S) were used to compare and discuss the extraction efficiency of each system. The results indicated that all esters could effectively separate 2-ethoxyethanol from water. Among them, isobutyl acetate exhibited the highest values for D and S, demonstrating its superior separation capability. The experimental data were correlated with the thermodynamic model and interaction parameters were obtained. These parameters were verified using the GUI-MATLAB tool, and all four systems passed validation, confirming the reliability of the obtained binary interaction parameters. Furthermore, the root mean square deviation (RMSD) was used to assess the deviation between the experimental and regression values. The RMSD values for the NRTL and UNIQUAC models were 0.008 and 0.007, respectively. The interactions between 2-ethoxyethanol and water or esters were explored using σ-Profile, and it was found that esters with a branched chain structure provided better extraction. To explain the properties of the extractants microscopically, the interaction energies between 2-ethoxyethanol molecules and water or ester molecules, as well as the non-bonding energies of 2-ethoxyethanol in different media, were calculated.

Chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Vaccinium macrocarpon (Ericaceae) and Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) extracts

In the modern scientific community, considerable attention is given to studying the pharmacological activity of catechin and anthocyanin derivatives. However, a comparative analysis of the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts rich in anthocyanins and catechins has not been previously conducted. So, the purpose of this work was to study and compare phytochemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of Vaccinium macrocarpon L., Ericaceae fruit thick and Camellia sinensis L., Theaceae leaf liquid extracts. The quantification of biologically active substances (BAS) was accomplished with spectrophotometric, titrimetric and HPLC methods of analysis; antioxidant activity was determined by the potentiometric method; antimicrobial and anti-fungi effects was evaluated by the well method and minimum inhibition concentration. The total content of phenolic compounds was 0.47% and 10.10%, organic acids – 4.27% and 1.60% for V. macrocarpon fruit thick and C. sinensis leaf extract. The total content of catechins in the C. sinensis leaf extract was 105,000 mg/kg, where epicatechin-3-O-gallate dominated (37300 mg/kg). The total content of anthocyanins in the V. macrocarpon fruit thick extract was 1280 mg/kg, where peonidin-3-O-galactoside dominated (408 mg/kg). Both extracts possessed a high antioxidant potential, and effective antimicrobial and anti-fungi effects. The antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-fungi activity of V. macrocarpon fruit extract was higher than C. sinensis leaf extract. In addition, we assumed that anthocyanins had higher antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-fungi properties than catechins. These findings would promote application of V. macrocarpon fruits extract as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.

A Novel Apparatus for the Fully Automated Extraction and Online Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Solid Environmental Samples: Application to the Pressurized Hot Water Extraction of Pharmaceuticals in Soil.

A new self-assembled apparatus for the extraction of solid samples was designed and implemented to perform a recirculated pressurized hot water extraction (R-PHWE) directly coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. To investigate the potential of this new extraction apparatus, 34 target pharmaceutical compounds were analyzed in loam, silt-loam, and silty-clay-loam soils. The target analytes were characterized by heterogeneous physicochemical properties (e.g., -1.60 ≤ log D ≤ 5.91 at pH = 7.2, i.e., at the mean pH values of the three soils). Design of experiments (DoE) was used to identify the best extraction conditions for the target analytes by studying temperature, pressure, and number of extraction cycles. The results of DoE optimization pointed out the significant influence of the number of cycles on recovery. The application of DoE set point to the three reference soils provided recoveries ≥60% for 21-25 out the 34 target analytes, depending on soil. Good recovery precision (<25%) and moderate suppressive matrix effect (≤40%) were found for most target analytes, regardless of the soil considered. The optimized R-PHWE procedure evidenced statistically higher recoveries for 16 out of 34 target analytes when compared to conventional off-line dynamic PHWE.

Determination of the Nucleic Acid Constituents in Edible Mushrooms by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD)

Nucleosides and nucleobases in edible mushrooms collected from the Tekirdağ region of Turkey were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Separation of compounds was accomplished by gradient elution on a C18 column. A mixture of methanol (MeOH):50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (1:99, v/v) at pH 3.70 and methanol:50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (20:80) at pH 6.20 was used as the solvent. Two methods were used to treat the lyophilized mushrooms: ultrasound-assisted solid-liquid extraction (US-SLE) and pressurized (accelerated) solid-liquid extraction (PSLE). Deionized water was used as the extraction solvent. The extraction temperature and time were optimized. Fourteen nucleosides and nucleobases were simultaneously monitored at 254 nm within 25 min. Ultrasound-assisted solid-liquid was demonstrated to be more effective, perhaps because the pressurized liquid extraction system is a closed system and the matrix-solvent interaction may be insufficient. Adenosine, guanosine and uridine were the most abundant compounds in all studied mushrooms.

Profiling the volatile compounds of Peganum harmala L. Based on multiple sample preparation coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and explored its antidepressants-like activity

Peganum harmala L., a traditional medicinal plant in China, is renowned for its significant alkaloid content in seeds and roots exhibiting a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antidepressant, antiseptic, and antiviral. However, the volatile composition of the herb remained unclear. Apart from that, the extraction of volatile compounds through essential oil presents challenges due to the low yield and the degradation of volatile active compounds at high temperatures. This study used multiple sample preparation methods including headspace (HS), needle trap device (NTD), and liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to analyze the volatile compounds from the areal part of P. harmala L.. A total of 93 compounds were identified with NTD facilitating the first detection of harmine among the volatile organic compounds. Through network pharmacology and protein interaction analysis, the compounds’ potential therapeutic targets of the compounds were explored, and 23 key targets were obtained (AKT1, ALB, PTGS2, MAOA, etc). KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated significant involvement in neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions and serotonergic synapses. The results enhanced the understanding of P. harmala’s pharmacological mechanisms and supported its ethnopharmacological use.

Amazon Fruits as Healthy Ingredients in Muscle Food Products: A Review.

When looking for new ingredients to process red meat, poultry, and fish products, it is essential to consider using vegetable resources that can replace traditional ingredients such as animal fat and synthetic antioxidants that may harm health. The Amazon, home to hundreds of edible fruit species, can be a viable alternative for new ingredients in processing muscle food products. These fruits have gained interest for their use as natural antioxidants, fat replacers, colorants, and extenders. Some of the fruits that have been tested include açai, guarana, annatto, cocoa bean shell, sacha inchi oil, and peach palm. Studies have shown that these fruits can be used as dehydrated products or as liquid or powder extracts in doses between 250 and 500 mg/kg as antioxidants. Fat replacers can be added directly as flour or used to prepare emulsion gels, reducing up to 50% of animal fat without any detrimental effects. However, oxidation problems of the gels suggest that further investigation is needed by incorporating adequate antioxidant levels. In low doses, Amazon fruit byproducts such as colorants and extenders have been shown to have positive technological and sensory effects on muscle food products. While evidence suggests that these fruits have beneficial health effects, their in vitro and in vivo nutritional effects should be evaluated in muscle food products containing these fruits. This evaluation needs to be intended to identify safe doses, delay the formation of key oxidation compounds that directly affect health, and investigate other factors related to health.

Recovery of volatile fatty acids from anaerobic fermentation broth of baker’s yeast industry effluent by liquid−liquid extraction

As metabolic intermediates, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) can be recovered by separation and purification and contribute to the economy. It was necessary, however, to investigate the optimization of liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) in this study because of the technical difficulties encountered during the recovery of VFAs. For this reason, the organic solvents diethyl ether, trioctylamine, and toluene were investigated as LLE solvents to extract VFAs from Baker’s yeast industry effluent, which contains high levels of organic matter. An optimal pH value of 3 was determined by a pH scan performed between pH 2.5 and pH 7.5. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the effects of organic solvents and pH on extraction efficiency. The extraction efficiency was evaluated using the optimal pH and multi-stage extraction experiments. In a three-stage extraction, diethyl ether recovered 82% of the VFAs, making it a promising organic solvent for extracting VFAs from anaerobic fermentation broth. PCA revealed that an opposite correlation between VFA recovery and pH for each organic solvent. Based on the results of the cost analysis, it was determined that the costs of recovering VFAs were reduced by 90% per kilogram.

Amphetamine-like substances and synthetic cathinones in Portuguese wastewater influents: Enantiomeric profiling and role of suspended particulate matter

Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) has been used worldwide to estimate drug consumption routinely. Even though WBE provides valuable data to support legal and health interventions associated to drug use, monitoring studies in Portuguese wastewaters are scarce. Hence, this work aimed to estimate the consumption of some conventional abuse and illicit drugs such as amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MAMP), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and the synthetic cathinones buphedrone (BPD), butylone (BTL), 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC) and 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC), considering not only the liquid phase, but also the suspended particulate matter (SPM). Moreover, the enantiomeric profiling of the samples was studied, exploring for the first time the possible enantioselective sorption of these drugs onto SPM. For that, 24 h composite raw wastewaters were collected from a conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Portugal. After extraction, the liquid phase and SPM extracts were derivatized with an enantiomerically pure reagent and then, analysed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analytical method. The results showed a low and non-enantioselective adsorption to SPM at environmental relevant levels. Only (S)-AMP was detected in two SPM samples, whereas AMP, MAMP, MDMA, BPD, and 3,4-DMMC were detected in the liquid phase. AMP was the most frequently found drug with an estimated load up to 166.0 mg day−1 1000 people−1 and mostly found with enrichment of (S)-AMP. Nevertheless, (R)-AMP was also determined, which may be related to the consumption of either the illicit racemic AMP or the medicine (R)-deprenyl. The use of MDMA, MAMP and synthetic cathinones (BPD and 3,4-DMMC) was also suggested in Portugal. Nevertheless, the levels and the consumption estimate of the target chemicals were lower than in other European countries or worldwide. These findings provide the first step to the implementation of WBE monitoring campaigns to assess the status of drug consumption in Portuguese communities, contributing to the understanding of drug use patterns and trends worldwide and helping enforce preventive measures.

2-nitro-4-nonylphenol-based extractant for selective extraction of lithium from carbonate precipitation mother liquors

In this work, for the first time we proposed a mixture based on 2-nitro-4-nonylphenol as a lithium-selective binary extractant, in which the nitro group simultaneously participates in the formation of a six-membered metallocycle and increases the acidity of the phenolic group. The extraction of alkali metals (Li, Na, K) by a mixture of 2-nitro-4-nonylphenol and trioctylphosphinoxide in dodecane was studied in detail. The extraction of Li from mother liquors after Li2CO3 precipitation was considered as a practical application of the new binary extractant. It was shown that by using only liquid extraction methods, a high degree of concentration and purification of final product can be achieved. Mother liquor of Li2CO3 precipitation was concentrated by Li more than 50 times. Degree of lithium concentrate purification from Na and K was more than 5500 and 100,000 times, correspondingly.

Improving pressurized liquid extraction of passion fruit (P. edulis) bagasse: Exploring the effects of high-temperature, particle size, and extraction bed dimensions

Extraction techniques to obtain bioactive molecules from passion fruit bagasse have emerged recently. The driving force behind this effort lies in the array of biological properties related to its compounds, including anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasorelaxant properties. Given this background, this work proposes improvements to the extraction process from defatted passion fruit bagasse (DPFB). The effect of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) temperature was examined at 70, 90, and 110 °C, revealing an increase in global yield and total reducing content (TRC) with rising temperature. However, the yield of piceatannol was statistically equal between 70 and 90 °C and decreased at 110 °C, suggesting thermal degradation. These findings were corroborated by thermal stability analysis and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assessment. The impact of raw material particle size was investigated and showed that granulometric classification led to an increase in the TRC and piceatannol yields by 35% and 84%, respectively, and allowed identifying the piceatannol's location within the outer layer of the passion fruit seed (FR1). Mathematical modelling was applied to the kinetic extraction of DPFB-FR1 to assess the effect of bed height to diameter ratio (H/D). The two-site desorption model has properly fitted experimental data and indicated an enhancement in piceatannol mass transfer rate when increasing H/D. In summary, the present work presents findings and conclusions not previously documented in the literature, contributing to the improvement of PLE and pre-treatment methods for passion fruit bagasse.

Automated Liquid Handling Extraction and Rapid Quantification of Underivatized Amino Acids and Tryptophan Metabolites from Human Serum and Plasma Using Dual-Column U(H)PLC-MRM-MS and Its Application to Prostate Cancer Study.

Amino acids (AAs) and their metabolites are important building blocks, energy sources, and signaling molecules associated with various pathological phenotypes. The quantification of AA and tryptophan (TRP) metabolites in human serum and plasma is therefore of great diagnostic interest. Therefore, robust, reproducible sample extraction and processing workflows as well as rapid, sensitive absolute quantification are required to identify candidate biomarkers and to improve screening methods. We developed a validated semi-automated robotic liquid extraction and processing workflow and a rapid method for absolute quantification of 20 free, underivatized AAs and six TRP metabolites using dual-column U(H)PLC-MRM-MS. The extraction and sample preparation workflow in a 96-well plate was optimized for robust, reproducible high sample throughput allowing for transfer of samples to the U(H)PLC autosampler directly without additional cleanup steps. The U(H)PLC-MRM-MS method, using a mixed-mode reversed-phase anion exchange column with formic acid and a high-strength silica reversed-phase column with difluoro-acetic acid as mobile phase additive, provided absolute quantification with nanomolar lower limits of quantification within 7.9 min. The semi-automated extraction workflow and dual-column U(H)PLC-MRM-MS method was applied to a human prostate cancer study and was shown to discriminate between treatment regimens and to identify metabolites responsible for discriminating between healthy controls and patients on active surveillance.

INOSITOLS: BIOLOGICAL ROLE AND APPLICATION, METHODS OF EXTRACTION FROM PLANT RAW MATERIALS AND DETERMINATION, BIOTECHNOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS

The aim of the work was to review modern extraction, detection and quantification analytical methods of inositols and their derivatives. Methods. Inositols are extracted from vegetable raw materials by methods of liquid extraction, under pressure, microwave extraction and supercritical fluid extraction. Quantitatively analyzed by methods of gas and liquid chromatography with preliminary derivatization. The structure of inositols can be determined by the NMR spectroscopy. Results. Inositols and their derivatives are biologically active compounds, wich are involved in the egulation of the intracellular calcium level, the transmission of hormonal signals, the breakdown of fats and the reduction of cholesterol in the blood, the modulation of the neurotransmitters activity, etc. Inositols are used in the production of vitamin preparations. The main source for inositols extraction is vegetable raw material, namely alfalfa, as well as wheat sprouts, grapefruit, hazelnuts and others. In the paper, the methods of inositols extraction with organic and inorganic solvents, including the use of a Soxhlet apparatus, liquid extraction under pressure, microwave extraction and supercritical fluid extraction are considered. The procedure of preliminary sample preparation and polyols derivatization for their further separation and quantitative determination is described. Modern chromatographic methods of polyols identification and quantitative determination are analyzed. The possibility of using 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectroscopy to identify the structure of inositols and their derivatives is described. Conclusions. Inositols are biologically active compounds of a wide spectrum of action, therefore there is an urgent need to develop biotechnological processes for their production and extraction from plant raw materials and microorganisms.

Application of fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in sample preparation: Material characterization and mechanism investigation

The principle of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is based on atoms vibration and rotation, and it has become a universal and widely used spectral methodology to detect the internal molecular structures in all kinds of fields. Numerous review articles related to the applications of FTIR spectroscopy have been published in recent years. In addition, more and more scientists are aware the significance role of sample preparation to improve our life quality in life science. However, the application of FTIR spectroscopy in sample preparation hasn't been summarized. Thus, in the current paper, the application of FTIR spectroscopy in sample preparation was reviewed with the focuses on characterization of separation materials including both solid sorbents and liquid extractants, and the extraction mechanisms involved in the separation towards different targets including inorganic molecules such as rare earth elements, organic molecules such as phenolics, pharmaceuticals and illicit-drugs, and biomacromolecules of DNA and proteins. We believe that the current paper will be interested for the researchers in food science, forensic medicine, clinical medicine, environmental analysis and analytical chemistry.

Studi Pengolahan Limbah Fly Ash Batubara dalam Upaya Peningkatan Konsentrasi Silika Menggunakan Asam Sitrat

The combustion of coal produces two types of waste, namely light ash (Fly Ash) and heavy ash (Bottom Ash). Fly ash is the waste generated by power plants, contributing to environmental pollution. According to data from the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia in 2022, the current amount of fly ash and bottom ash in Indonesia continues to increase in line with the development and growth of the manufacturing industry as well as the increasing demand for electricity supplied by power plants. The combined fly ash and bottom ash generated from power plants alone in 2021 are estimated to reach 12 million tons, and it is projected to increase to 16.2 million tons by 2027. This poses a problem because the reused amount of fly ash and bottom ash is very small, necessitating the storage and/or landfilling of the remaining waste. The quantity of fly ash and bottom ash continues to grow without proper management, potentially contaminating the environment due to fine particles from coal combustion that become airborne. One way to utilize the silica contained in coal fly ash is through a hydrometallurgical extraction process. This process involves extracting metal compounds from ore using liquids such as acid. In the extraction process of silica from coal fly ash, pure citric acid is used as the extraction liquid. This process has several advantages compared to conventional processing methods, such as sintering or roasting, as it is more cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Application of Various Concentrations of Moringa Leaf Liquid Fertilizer (Moringa oleifera L.) to Stimulate Growth and Yield of Upland Rice Under Various Drought Stresses

Upland rice is susceptible to drought stress in crops, especially on marginal lands. The use of moringa leaf liquid fertilizer as a biostimulant that is very rich in important compounds is expected to increase growth andproduction as well as plant tolerance to drought stress. This study aims to determine the appropriate concentrationof moringa leaf extract liquid fertilizer to inhibit the growth and yield of upland rice plants grown under variouslevels of drought stress. This study was arranged in the form of a 2-factor factorial experiment with randomizedcomplate block design Split plot design form. The main plot is the application of moringa leaf extract liquidfertilizer consisting of four concentration levels 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% moringa leaf liquid fertilizer. Subplots (SP)was drought stress consisting of three levels of percentage of Field Capacity, namely 100%, 75%, and 50% FC.There were 12 treatment combinations of two units in one replication, each treatment combination was repeated3 times for a total of 72 experimental units. The experiment of moringa leaf liquid fertilizer concentration gave asignificant effect on the increase of plant height, number of tillers, productive tillers, flag leaf area, number ofgrain per plant, grain weight per plant, and grain production per hectare at several levels of droughtstress.Concentration of 15% Moringa leaf liquid fertilizer gives a better effect in increasing the productivity ofupland rice with an average yield of 1507.03 tons/hectare under moderate stress (75% field capasity), and anaverage yield of 1081.66 tons/hectare under high drought stress (50% field capasity).

Extraction of low-concentration bio-based diols and dicarboxylic acids using ionic liquid-based aqueous two-phase systems: Experimental and theoretical studies

Biochemical pathways to generate renewable and high value-added diols and dicarboxylic acids have attracted increasing interest. However, the diols/dicarboxylic acids usually exist in the form of low-concentration aqueous solution after the bioprocesses, causing the issues of low efficiency and high energy consumption in the separation and recovery of these highly hydrophilic bioproducts. Here, we developed an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) consisting of ionic liquid (IL) and inorganic salt for efficient extraction of the bio-based diols and dicarboxylic acids. The optimal salt, IL, and extractant to feed volume ratio were K4P2O7, [Bmim][C12H23O2], and 1:4, respectively. The selected IL showed large capacity and good reusability, with the highest dehydration rate reaching up to 97.6%. More importantly, the IL-based ATPS exhibited effectiveness and high efficiency in the separation of various low-concentration diols and dicarboxylic acids, with the recovery exceeding 91.9%. To explore the extraction mechanism, the structural and interactions analyses were conducted by DFT calculations. The strength of hydrogen bond interactions formed between diols/dicarboxylic acids and ILs and those between salts and water largely determines the extraction performance. Moreover, three descriptors that can well represent the H-bond basicity and polarizability/dipolarity of ILs were established to facilitate the IL evaluation and screening.