abstract
This work studied the phase separation in systems formed by polypropylene glycol (PPG) with different molecular weights (425, 725, 1000, 2000 g mol(-1)) + ethylene glycol + ethanol, PPG + imidazolium chloride-based ionic liquid (IL) + ethanol, and PPG + ethylene glycol + IL (as adjuvant) + ethanol, which are namely Ethanolic Two-Phase System (ETPS). Systems based on PPG with highest molecular weight (2000 g mol(-1)) or IL with shortest alkyl chain ([C-2 mim]Cl) present the widest biphasic area and consequently the easiest phase formation. Moreover, the addition of low amounts of IL (5 wt%) is favorable for the liquid-liquid demixing. These systems were used in the partitioning of curcumin (hydrophobic compound) and caffeic acid (hydrophilic compound) from saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Curcumin migrated to the PPG-rich phase (extraction efficiency, EE= 90.3%) while caffeic acid partitioned to the oppositive phase (EECA = 89.1%), representing a selective partitioning. In systems using IL as a constituent or adjuvant, the interactions between the IL and biocompounds propitiate the curcumin and caffeic acid migration for the same phase, interfering in the selectivity of the systems. However, IL-based ETPS showed a complete partition of the curcumin (EE = 100%) and the caffeic acid achieved an EE values of 98.0% for IL of longer alkyl chain length ([C(6)min]Cl). This protocol based on ETPS can thus be applied as an approach to extract and purify biomolecules with very low (or null) water solubility. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
keywords
AQUEOUS BIPHASIC SYSTEMS; POLYETHYLENE-GLYCOL; ASSISTED EXTRACTION; CURCUMIN; POLYMERS; WATER; OPTIMIZATION; PERFORMANCE; BEHAVIOR; ACID
subject category
Chemistry, Physical; Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical
authors
Buarque, FS; Guimaraes, DEM; Soares, CMF; Souza, RL; Pereira, MM; Lima, AS
our authors
Matheus M. Pereira
Researcheracknowledgements
This work was financed by national funds through the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); Coordination of Improvement of Higher-Level Personnel (CAPES); and Foundation for the Support of Research and Technological Innovation of the State of Sergipe (FAPITEC/SE). F.S. Buarque acknowledges the Ph.D. grant from CAPES. D.E.M. Guimaraes acknowledge the scholarship grant from FAPITEC/SE. C.M.F. Soaresand A.S. Lima thanks CNPq for the productivity fellowship program (304672/2015-7).