Plant Biomass Extraction Using Sequential Polarity Solvents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting active compounds from plant biomass, such as mescaline and cannabinoids, suffer from low yield and low purity, often resulting in contaminated extracts due to the use of traditional techniques like carbon dioxide and butane extraction.
Innovation Solution
A multi-step process involving the separation of plant epidermis and chlorenchyma, followed by freeze drying, particle size reduction, solvent mixing, agitation, and multiple solvent extractions using a polarity gradient, including non-polar solvents like petroleum ether and polar solvents like methanol and ethyl acetate, to isolate and purify active compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional extraction methods using carbon dioxide or butane are used, then the extraction process is simple, but the yield and purity of active compounds are low and contaminants are present
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is divided into multiple sequential steps: initial extraction with non-polar solvent, filtration to remove solids, extraction of filtrate with polar solvent, and concentration. This segmentation allows each step to target specific compounds and remove specific contaminants, progressively improving purity while maintaining manageable process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different solvents with specific polarity characteristics are used at different stages of the process. Non-polar solvents (petroleum ether, hexane) are used first to extract non-polar contaminants, then polar solvents (ethyl acetate, methanol) are used to extract polar active compounds. This local quality approach ensures that each extraction step targets specific compound types, improving overall purity
2Productivity
If traditional extraction methods are used, then the process is fast and simple, but the yield of active compounds is low
Solution Approach 1:
The plant material is freeze-dried and ground into a fine powder before extraction begins. This preliminary action increases the surface area and porosity of the material, allowing solvents to penetrate more effectively and extract compounds more efficiently, thereby increasing yield without proportionally increasing extraction time
Solution Approach 2:
The process uses sequential extraction where the filtrate from the first extraction step is immediately used as the basis for the second extraction with polar solvent. This continuous action ensures that active compounds are progressively extracted from all available sources in the material, maximizing yield while maintaining efficient use of time
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional extraction methods are used, then fewer processing steps are required, but contaminants remain in the extract
Solution Approach 1:
The process explicitly separates and removes contaminants through filtration steps that eliminate solid particles from the extract. Additionally, the sequential use of solvents with increasing polarity selectively extracts different compound types, taking out desired active compounds while leaving unwanted contaminants behind in earlier extraction fractions
Solution Approach 2:
The process changes the polarity parameter of the solvent system progressively. Starting with non-polar solvents to remove non-polar contaminants, then moving to polar solvents to extract polar active compounds. This parameter change strategy systematically improves purity by targeting different contaminant types at different stages while maintaining efficient extraction
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process significantly increases the yield and purity of active compounds, such as mescaline and cannabinoids, by effectively removing contaminants and improving solvent penetration, resulting in high-purity extracts suitable for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Implementation Method 1
mixing the powder with a non-polar solvent to form a mixture having a solid phase and a liquid phase, wherein the solid phase comprises the active compounds and the liquid phase comprises hydrophobic compounds
Implementation Method 2
agitating, optionally by sonicating, the mixture at low power to reduce the particle size of the solid phase
Implementation Method 3
separating the solid phase from the liquid phase, optionally by centrifugation
Implementation Method 4
extracting the active compounds from the solid phase by mixing the solid phase with an alcohol, such as methanol, to form an alcoholic mixture
Implementation Method 5
combining the first and second alcoholic extracts and removing, optionally by evaporating, the alcohol to obtain a crude oil (extract) comprising the active compounds
Implementation Method 6
agitating, optionally by sonication (either with an ultrasonic probe or in an ultrasonic bath), the crude mixture at low power to obtain a water phase and a first ethyl acetate phase
Implementation Method 7
mixing the water phase with a base to obtain a basified water phase having a pH greater than 12.0
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is generally directed to the extraction of active compounds from plant biomass. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to the extraction of active compounds from plant biomass using solvents of different polarity.