Weight Of Polyethylene Glycol Research Articles

Diffusion mediated thermally induced phase separation for preparing poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes with enhanced separation performances

Thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process is an appealing method for preparing poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes for separation. In this work, we developed a diffusion mediated thermally induced phase separation (d-TIPS) to prepare PVDF membranes with great molecules separation performances. We investigated the thermodynamics of ternary polymer solutions including PVDF, caprolactam (CPL), and Polyethylene glycol (PEG). We controlled liquid–liquid phase separation and the CPL diffusion by adjusting the addition of PEG and molecular weight to modulate the evolution of morphology from spherulitic to bicontinuous structure. The resulting membrane was characterized by morphology, surface chemistry, tensile strength, water contact angle, and perm-selectivity. The membrane was further stretched for enhanced strength, permeance, and rejection. This work provides a fundamental understanding of the diffusion mediated thermally induced phase separation and shows the great potential of PVDF membranes in macromolecules separation.

Fluorescence visualization of CO2-responsive phase transfer materials targeting at the heterogeneous interfacial reactions in advanced oxidation of naphthenic acid in wastewater

Treatment of naphthenic acids (NAs) in wastewater is necessary due to its high toxicity and difficult degradation. In the heterogeneous Fenton-like advanced oxidation of organic pollutant system, the insufficient accessibility of oxidizing agent and NAs greatly hamper the reaction efficiency. CO2-responsive phase transfer materials derived from polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based deep eutectic solvents were specific targeted at the immiscible-binary phase system. The NAs oxidative degradation process was optimized including the kinds of catalyst (Molecular weight of PEG, constitute of DESs, and dosage.), temperature, flow rate of CO2, et al. With the help of fluorescence properties of catalyst, the hydrophilic-hydrophobic interaction was visual-monitored and further studied. The amphipathic property of PEG-200/Sodium persulfate/Polyether amine 230 (PEA230) greatly reduced the aqueous/organic phase transfer barrier between sodium persulfate and NAs (up to 84 %), thus accreting oxidation rate. The surface tension decreased from 35.364 mN/m to 28.595 mN/m. To control the reaction rate, the CO2 respond structure of amido played an important role. In addition, the interfacial transfer intermediates and oxidation pathways were also explored by nuclear magnetic resonance, flourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface tension, and radical inhibition experiments. The mechanism of advanced oxidation of NAs catalyzed by CO2-responsive phase transfer catalyst was proposed, which would made up for the deficiency of the system theory of heterogeneous chemical oxidation of organic pollutants.

Preparation and performance analysis of polyethylene glycol/epoxy resin composite phase change material

It is crucial for their widespread application to develop phase change materials (PCMs) that can be mass-produced and possess high thermal storage capacity and stability. This study uses polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the phase change material and epoxy resin as the matrix to prepare polyethylene glycol/epoxy resin composite phase change materials (EPPCM) by blending and analyzing the effects of PEG's molecular weight and content on EPPCM's performance. The results indicate that PEG and epoxy resin are physically blended without chemical reaction. When the molecular weight of PEG is fixed, the larger the content of PEG, the higher the crystallinity, phase change enthalpy value, and phase change temperature of EPPCM, and the weaker the thermal cyclic stability and mechanical properties. When the content of PEG is fixed, the larger the molecular weight of PEG, the higher the crystallinity, phase change enthalpy value, and phase change temperature of EPPCM, the stronger the thermal cyclic stability, and the weaker the mechanical properties. Using PEG-10000 as the PCM with a PEG to epoxy resin ratio of 1:2.5, the EPPCM shows a phase change exothermic temperature range of 33.4 °C to 45.7 °C, an endothermic temperature range of 54.3 °C to 65.4 °C, a phase change enthalpy of 130.0 J/g, and only 1.56 % mass loss after 30 phase change cycles.

A study on influence of wettability on antiviral coating using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and acrylic binder

Abstract One of the biggest problems facing medical science today is preventing viral outbreaks, which highlights the significance of research initiatives aimed at creating antimicrobial coatings for a range of products, including textiles, medical devices, and public spaces. In this study, we aimed to determine the possible antiviral effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating on feline coronavirus (FCoV). The PEG coatings were synthesized by a simple mixing method with a water-based acrylic binder in different weight percentages (3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 wt%). The Spearman–Karber technique was used to calculate the viral titers, which were then expressed as the tissue culture infectious dose at 50 % CPE (TCID50/ml). 20 wt% PEG could result in a 3 log10 reduction in virus titer with an inhibition rate of approximately 99.9 % against FCoV. The increment of PEG weight percent from 0 to 25 wt% decreases the hardness and glass transition temperature of the coatings from 38.1 to 5.5 HV and 15.45 to −15.48 °C. Apart from that, the wettability analysis has revealed that PEG coating is hydrophilic with water contact angle (WCA) of around 75 ± 0.5°–85 ± 0.5°. Adding 25 wt% of PEG makes the coating to be superhydrophilic with WCA of 39.85 ± 0.5°.

Green, recyclable and high latent heat form-stable phase change composites supported by cellulose nanofibers for thermal energy management

Efficiently addressing the challenge of leakage is crucial in the advancement of solid-liquid phase change thermal storage composite materials; however, numerous existing preparation methods often entail complexity and high energy consumption. Herein, a straightforward blending approach was adopted to fabricate stable phase change nanocomposites capitalizing on the interaction between TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules. By adjusting the ratio of TOCNF to PEG and the molecular weights of PEG, TOCNF/PEG phase change composites (TPCC) with customizable phase transition temperature (40.3–59.1 °C) and high phase transition latent heat (126.3–172.1 J/g) were obtained. The TPCC of high-loaded PEG (80–95 wt%) ensured a leakage rate of less than 1.7 wt% after 100 heating-cooling cycles. Moreover, TPCC exhibits excellent optical properties with a transmittance of over 90 % at room temperature and up to 96 % after heating. The thermal response analysis of TPCC demonstrates exceptional thermal-induced flexibility and good thermal stability, as well as recyclability and reshaping ability. This study may inspire others to design bio-based phase change composites with potential applications in thermal energy storage and management of smart-energy buildings, photothermal response devices, and waste heat-generating electronics.

Polyethylene glycol regulates the pitch and liquid crystal behavior of cellulose nanocrystal-based photonic crystals

Inspired by iridescent color in natural creations, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) photonic crystals artificially created by nanotechnology have great application prospects due to their potential to control light propagation in the linear and nonlinear regimes. One of the most important development directions of photonic crystals is the diversification of colors, usually by adjusting the pitch. However, few researchers notice the effect of polymer molecular weight and content on pitch regulation and the interaction between polymer and CNC liquid crystals. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used as polymers to regulate the pitch of CNC photonic crystals and investigate the changes in microstructure, crystal structure, thermal properties, and liquid crystal texture of the composites by changing the PEG content and molecular weight. Different photonic crystal construction systems show that when the molecular weight of PEG is 0.4 k, it can be filled between CNCs to regulate the pitch of photonic crystals, while when the molecular weight of PEG is 20 k, it cannot always be filled between CNCs in evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process due to the depletion interaction, which cannot effectively regulate the pitch. This study reveals the relationship between PEG and CNC liquid crystals, which supports the development of photonic crystals and the pitch regulation.

To Assess Drug Delivery System Nanocarrier at Industrial Production: Establishment of Liposomal Surface Using Physicochemical Properties

Liposomes have been reported to be useful nanocarrier, however, there are number of challenges to resolve before they can be optimized for drug delivery. Liposomes are taken up by cell in the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) modification on the liposomal membrane forms a fixed aqueous layer and thus prevents uptake by the RES. The physicochemical properties of liposomes that are most commonly evaluated particle size and zeta potential are not sufficient indicator of the passive targeting effect by PEG modification. In contrast, the fixed aqueous layer thickness (FALT) around liposomal surface was clear to be regulated to be the utilized action in the body. It was showed that the FALT value of PEG-modified liposomes containing doxorubicin increased with the increase in the molecular weight of PEG. Furthermore, PEG modification with a combination of high- and low- molecular weight PEGs on liposomal membranes showed in optimal results with respect to FALT and a higher antitumor effect. In addition, we designed and synthesized a novel PEG-lipid, different double arms PEG (DDA-PEG), which consisted of two PEG chains of 500 and 2000 in one molecule to develop more useful PEG-modified liposomes. DDA-PEG was found to have superior antitumor activity and was associated with the prevention of tumor metastasis. Furthermore, we sought to (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) functions as a target ligand of the 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR), which is expressed on high-grade tumor cells. EGCG-PEG-modified liposome appear to have superior antitumor activity against high 67LR-expressing tumor cells, as the liposomes had dual effects.

Polycaprolactone/Starch/Agar Coatings for Food-Packaging Paper: Statistical Correlation of the Formulations' Effect on Diffusion, Grease Resistance, and Mechanical Properties.

Paper is one of the most promising materials for food packaging and wrapping due to its low environmental impact, but surface treatments are often needed to improve its performance, e.g., the resistance to fats and oils. In this context, this research is focused on the formulation of a new paper bio-coating. Paper was coated with liquids containing poly(hexano-6-lactone) (PCL), glycerol and variable percentages of starch (5-10% w/w PCL dry weight), agar-agar (0-1.5% w/w PCL dry weight), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) (5% or 15% w/w PCL dry weight) to improve coating uniformity and diffusion. A design of experiments approach was implemented to find statistically reliable results in terms of the best coating formulation. Coated paper was characterized through mechanical and physical properties. Results showed that agar content (1.5% w/w PCL dry weight) has a beneficial effect on increasing the resistance to oil. Furthermore, the best coating composition has been calculated, and it is 10% w/w PCL dry weight of starch, 1.5% w/w PCL dry weight of agar, and 15% w/w PCL dry weight of PEG.

Characterization of a chlorine resistant and hydrophilic TiO2/calcium alginate hydrogel filtration membrane used for protein purification maintaining protein structure

The development of membranes for protein purification has stringent requirement of disinfection resistance, low protein adsorption and anti-fouling, without changing protein structure. In this study, hydrophilic titanium dioxide (TiO2)/calcium alginate (TiO2/CaAlg) hydrogel membranes were prepared by a simple ionic cross-linking method. The effects of the porogenic agent polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration, the molecular weight of PEG, and the concentration of TiO2 on the filtration properties were systematically investigated. The TiO2/CaAlg membrane exhibited excellent bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection and anti-fouling properties. The mechanical properties and surface energy of the TiO2/CaAlg membrane were significantly improved. The chemical bonding mechanism of TiO2 and NaAlg was investigated by molecular dynamic simulation. The TiO2/CaAlg membrane had good chlorine resistance and could be disinfected or cleaned with sodium hypochlorite. The TiO2/CaAlg hydrogel membrane loaded with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) nanofibers maintained high flux (136.7 L/m2h) and high BSA rejection (98.0 %) at 0.1 MPa. The results of circular dichroism and synchronous fluorescence indicated that the secondary structure of BSA was maintained after membrane separation. This study provides one method for the preparation of green and environmentally friendly membrane for protein purification.

Quantification of macromolecule crowding at single-molecule level.

Macromolecule crowding has a prominent impact on a series of biochemical processes in the cell. It is also expected to promote macromolecular complexation induced by excluded volume effects, which conflicts with recent advances in the thermodynamic interaction between inert, synthetic polymers, and nucleic acids. Along this line, a method combining high-resolution magnetic tweezers and extended crowder-oxDNA model was applied to resolve these discrepancies by systematically studying the kinetics and thermodynamics of the folding-unfolding transition for an individual DNA hairpin in a crowded environment. More specifically, from the magnetic tweezers-based experiments, the linear dependence of the critical force of the DNA hairpin on the polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration was demonstrated, which is consistent with the results based on the crowder-oxDNA model in which the Lennard-Jones potential was adopted to express the interaction between the crowders and the DNA hairpin. These consistencies highlight that the excluded volume effects are mainly responsible for the interaction between PEG and the DNA hairpin, which is different from the interaction between dextran and the DNA hairpin. In the meantime, the dependence of the folding rate on the molecule weight of PEG, which was different from fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based results, was identified. The proposed method opens a path to detect the interaction between an inert, synthetic molecule, and the DNA hairpin, which is important to accurately mimic the cytosolic environments using mixtures of different inert molecules.

Fluctuations of Dry and Total Mass of Cells Exposed to Different Molecular Weights of Polyethylene Glycol

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used in many applications, and in the clinical field, it is one of the main components of the latest Covid vaccines. Its wide use is justified by a relatively safe profile and few known side effects. However, little is known about the biophysical effects of PEG on cells such as, cell stiffness, dry mass, and total mass. Herein, exploiting a digital holographic microscope, an inertial picobalance, and a nanoindenter, these properties are characterized in rat embryonic fibroblast exposed to different molecular weights of PEG. Immediately after the first minutes of PEG exposure to the cells, a reduction in cell dry mass can be observed as well as a rapid fluctuation in total cell weight. Cell stiffness decreases significantly after 48 h, while no important morphological changes are observed. Here, it is revealed how dry mass and total mass are rapidly and finely regulated, highlighting how the maintenance of cell density is of primary importance in cellular activities.

Polymeric phase change material networks based on multi-telechelic polyethylene glycol-derived multimer structures for thermal energy storage

Multi-telechelic polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based multimers with multiple reactive groups at both ends of the molecular chains can be used to prepare solid–solid phase change materials (PCMs) networks with enhanced mechanical strength, shape stability, PEG weight and adjustability in crosslink density, denoted as multi-telechelic effect in this report. Herein, multi-telechelic PEG-based PCMs networks were synthesized via the crosslinking reactions between designed hydroxyl-terminated multi-telechelic PEG-based multimers and curing agents, whose parameters can be readily tuned by the structure of multi-telechelic PEG-based multimers, for example, the number of PEG-derived structural units and the functionality of curing agents. Compared to conventional di-telechelic diethanolamine (DEA)-cured PCMs (DPCMs), the multi-telechelic tri-hexamethylene diisocyanate-cured PCMs (TPCMs) increase to 8–50 times in the storage modulus while decreasing only by 9.4 % in melting latent heat (ΔHm). The ΔHm of TPCMs increases by 58.2 % from 77.0 J/g to 121.8 J/g with increasing the number of PEG-derived structural units (y) from 1 to 4 when PEG with a number-average molecular weight of 4 kDa was used. TPCMs possess fine shape and thermal stability as well as thermal reliability while the reprocessability of PCMs is endowed by introducing a transcarbamoylation catalyst. The multi-telechelic PEG-based multimers can provide an alternative approach towards high-performance PCMs networks.

Experimental investigation of heat transfer characteristics of polyethylene glycol (PEG) based quench media for industrial heat treatment

Aqueous polymer quenchants are now increasingly used in the quench hardening of steels. The inverse solubility property of polymer media leads to polymer film encapsulation of the quenched component, followed by an instantaneous rupture of the polymer film. The film boiling stage is absent, thus improving heat transfer uniformity. In the present investigation, the effect of molecular weight of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) on heat transfer characteristics of PEG/water quenchants with concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 vol% was studied. The cooling curve analysis is performed to assess the cooling characteristics. Spatially dependent surface heat flux transients are estimated using the inverse heat conduction method. The rewetting kinematics is analyzed by videography and acoustic analysis of polymer film rupture during quenching. The results indicated that an increase in the molecular weight of PEG from 200 to 6000 changed the rewetting kinematics from a local wetting front movement to an instantaneous rupture of the polymer film. The change in the rewetting kinematics is reflected in the surface heat flux, indicating an increased uniformity of heat transfer. The film rupture acoustics showed that the polymer film's instantaneous breakup had a higher sound intensity than the one showing wetting front motion.

Preparation and drug release performance of amphiphilic medical hot‐melt pressure sensitive adhesives based on polystyrene‐isoprene‐styrene

AbstractHot‐melt pressure‐sensitive adhesives (HMPSAs) with polystyrene‐isoprene‐styrene (SIS) as the backbone material are widely used in transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) because of their high cohesive strength and drug‐carrying capacity. However, it is restricted by its high hydrophobicity when loaded with hydrophilic drugs. In this study, HMPSAs with amphiphilic properties were created by mixing SIS with fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO‐9) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights to improve the ability of HMPSAs to deliver hydrophilic drugs. The effects of different molecular weights of PEG on the hydrophilicity of HMPSAs were also investigated. Additionally, gardenia glycosides and oleanolic acid were selected for drug release experiments. Compared to untreated HMPSAs, HMPSAs modified with AEO‐9 and PEG2000 could convert from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. The contact angle could be reduced from 91.8 to 25.6°, and the 24‐hour water absorption could be raised by 170%. The drug release experiments demonstrate that SIS/AEO‐9/PEG2000 enhances the release efficiency of the hydrophilic drug gardenia jasminoides by 69%. In summary, as a novel amphiphilic medicinal HMPSAs, SIS/AEO‐9/PEG offered a broad application promise in hydrophilic drug release.

Influence of Molecular Weight and Grafting Density of PEG on the Surface Properties of Polyurethanes and Their Effect on the Viability and Morphology of Fibroblasts and Osteoblasts.

Grafting polyethylene glycol (PEG) onto a polymer's surface is widely used to improve biocompatibility by reducing protein and cell adhesion. Although PEG is considered to be bioinert, its incorporation onto biomaterials has shown to improve cell viability depending on the amount and molecular weight (MW) used. This phenomenon was studied here by grafting PEG of three MW onto polyurethane (PU) substrata at three molar concentrations to assess their effect on PU surface properties and on the viability of osteoblasts and fibroblasts. PEG formed a covering on the substrata which increased the hydrophilicity and surface energy of PUs. Among the results, it was observed that osteoblast viability increased for all MW and grafting densities of PEG employed compared with unmodified PU. However, fibroblast viability only increased at certain combinations of MW and grafting densities of PEG, suggesting an optimal level of these parameters. PEG grafting also promoted a more spread cell morphology than that exhibited by unmodified PU; nevertheless, cells became apoptotic-like as PEG MW and grafting density were increased. These effects on cells could be due to PEG affecting culture medium pH, which became more alkaline at higher MW and concentrations of PEG. Results support the hypothesis that surface energy of PU substrates can be tuned by controlling the MW and grafting density of PEG, but these parameters should be optimized to promote cell viability without inducing apoptotic-like behavior.

Characterization Effect of Polysulfone Membranes with Different Molecular Weight of Polyethylene Glycol Additives

Nowadays, membrane technology has gaining popularity in biotechnology, food processing, water treatment, pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries. It been reported as a potential technique for separation due to their low-cost process, does not used many chemical and energy sufficient. However, there is less study about polysulfone (PSF) used as a polymer based in membrane filtration with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as additives in different molecular weight (Mw: 400, 600, 1500, and 4000 Da). Therefore, this study has been conducted to investigate the effect of different molecular weight of PEG in terms of thermal stability, hydrophilicity, and porosity. For methodology, PSF polymer was fabricated with PEG and Dimethylacetamide (DMAc) act as solvent via wet phase inversion method. The physical, thermal and chemical characterization were analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and laboratory testing of contact angle, water uptake, and porosity. The result showed improvement in fabricated membranes hydrophilicity than pure membrane. PEG with high molecular weight demonstrated the higher membrane hydrophilicity, good thermal stability (38.40%), contact angle (54°), higher water uptake (385.23%), and higher porosity (82.72%). As conclusion, PSF with addition of the high molecular weight of PEG (PEG4000) can improve the performance of membrane filtration.

Effect of different molecular weights of polyethylene glycol as a plasticizer on the formulation of dry powder inhaler capsules: Investigation of puncturing size, morphologies, and surface properties

Today, the principle of research and development is pulmonary drug delivery due to the potential for maximizing therapeutic effects for patients by direct drug targeting the pathology site in the lungs. Amongst the convenient delivery alternatives, the Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) is the preferred device to remedy a variety of diseases. In this regard, the fabrication and development of a novel formulation for DPI capsules have been studied. We investigated the effects of various parameters, such as percentages of polyethylene glycol (PEG), propylene glycol (PG), glycerol (Gly), brittleness, test conditions, and particle release of manufactured DPI capsules. The efficacy of each parameter was evaluated in detail to understand and address the consequences of the mentioned factors. The results illustrated that the lower molecular weight of PEGs presented the better plasticizing capability of gelatin. Owing to the hygroscopicity of the utilized plasticizer, polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) increased the capsule flexibility for a longer time and its stability under environmental conditions in the gelatin capsule formulation. Likewise, no particle release was observed in the gelatin/PEG capsule. The prepared gelatin/PEG400 capsules were compared with pure gelatin and HPMC capsules. The capsules were evaluated in terms of loss on drying (LOD), surface morphology, roughness, and puncture type. The results show that using PEG-400 can lead to the production of capsules that have low moisture content and minimal interaction with APIs. In addition, gelatin/PEG capsules have no particles due to the smooth surface after the punching process. The as-produced capsules are not blocked again after punching, allowing the patient to take the drug completely. In fact, the present research provided substantial insight regarding the development of DPI formulation in capsule investigations on an industrial scale.

Effect of Coating Thickness and Polyethylene Glycol’s Molecular Weight on Diltiazem Hydrochloride Release from Controlled Porosity Osmotic Pump Tablets

The purpose of this research was to design CPOP tablets to achieve controlled delivery of diltiazem hydrochloride (DH) up to 12 hours, which is a water-soluble calcium channel blocker with a short biological half-life. Two batches of osmotic tablet cores were prepared, containing DH with mannitol as an osmotic agent (1: 1.5 ratio). The tablet cores formulation with 10 mm diameter achieved the required technical and mechanical specifications. Direct compression technique was used to prepare the tablet cores which were evaluated in terms of mechanical resistance and uniformity of dosage units, followed by spray film coating using cellulose acetate as a former polymer of the semipermeable membrane and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a pore forming agent. Several molecular weights of PEG (6000, 1500 and 400) were used and coating thickness levels were obtained. In vitro drug release, morphology of coating surface and the effect of pH change on release rate were investigated. Most of the prepared formulations demonstrated a burst release at the initial stage, which could be controlled by increasing the coating thickness. Formulations with PEG400 as a pore former presented better controlled and less burst release than those containing PEG6000, PEG1500, or a mixture of PEG6000: PEG400 (1: 1), and the pH change did not affect the drug release except in the initial stage.

Acid Dissociation Behavior of 8-Hydroxyquinoline-5-Sulfonic Acid in Molecular Crowding Environment Modeled Using Polyethylene Glycol

• Revealing the molecular crowding effect on the acid dissociation (AD) in PEG solution. • The p K a value depended on the concentration and the molecular weight of PEG. • Δ H and Δ S of AD in PEG solution were obtained. • The AD in PEG solution was caused by the dehydration of dissociated species. The thermodynamics and kinetics of biomolecular reactions in a molecular crowding environment are different from those in dilute solutions. Although biomolecular reactions in crowding solutions have received extensive attention from many researchers, fundamental thermodynamic reactions, such as acid dissociation, are not yet understood. Herein, we investigated the thermodynamic behavior of acid dissociation of 8-hydroxyquinolin-5-sulfonic acid in the molecular crowding. Two acid dissociation constants, K a1 and K a2 , in polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights were determined by pH titration. The K a change was analyzed based on the change in osmotic pressure. The temperature dependences of K a1 and K a2 allowed us to obtain the enthalpy (Δ H ) and entropy changes (Δ S ) . The Δ H and Δ S values suggest that dehydration of the dissociated species was induced by the decrease in water activity upon the addition of PEG. The results show that the acid dissociation in the PEG solution can be explained by dehydration.

Response surface methodology for optimisation of glycyrrhizic acid extraction from Glycyrrhiza glabra in the aqueous two-phase system

ABSTRACT Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) is a natural sweetener obtained from Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and has numerous biological activities. In the present study, partitioning of GA in the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-salt aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was optimised using the central composite design of response surface methodology (RSM). Effects of different operational parameters, such as salt concentration, pH, molecular weight of PEG, and concentration were studied to recover GA. The RSM predicted optimised conditions comprised 15.65% (w/v) of PEG 4000, 19.69% (w/v) of Sodium citrate and pH 8.0, yielding 28.39 mg/g GA. The close resemblance of the predicted and experimental yield of GA outlined the successful validation of the response model. In addition, the ATPS method offered lower energy, process time, cost economics and solvent consumption over conventional Soxhlet extraction.