Journal of Chromatography & Separation Techniques
Open Access

Supercritical CO2 in its multiple roles: Solvent for fractionation of complex mixtures and blowing agent in polymer foaming

2^nd International Conference and Expo on Separation Techniques

September 26-28, 2016 Valencia, Spain

Martin Topiar, Marie Sajfrtova, Helena Sovova

Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v.v.i., 16502, Prague, Czech Republic
University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 166 28, Prague, Czech Republic

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Chromatogr Sep Tech

Abstract :

Carbon dioxide in its supercritical state (sc-CO2) can find application in formation of microcellular polystyrene foams (PSF) with improved thermal properties in comparison with PSF on the market. A most important application of sc-CO2 on industrial scale is supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) from plants. Both processes have been studied in our laboratory. Although the SFE is more selective than common extraction methods, CO2 extracts still contain a mixture of chemical compounds. If a high concentrated isolate is required, suitable fractionation methods have to be involved into the process. Supercritical adsorption, a novel promising method combining SFE from plants with selective adsorption of extracted compounds, could be a solution when high purity isolates free of any traces of organic solvents are required. We used this method for fractionation of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) isolate obtained by SFE. The major compounds analyzed by GC were turmerone (22.7 wt.%), ar-turmerone (13.2 wt.%) and curlone (13.8 wt%). Turmerones belong to widely studied substances with potential use in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The efficiency of fractionation was studied in terms of adsorption conditions, adsorbent type and sorbent-to-feed ratio. The concentration of turmerones in isolate increased from the initial 49.7 wt.% up to 93.8 wt% with using a particular type of silica gel. Moreover, the concentration of �?²-sesquiphellandrene, a compound with a potential anticancer activity, in volatile fraction obtained from supercritical adsorption process was almost 16 times higher than in the initial sample. These are promising results for a more detailed subsequent research on this method.
Acknowledgement: The financial support from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic via grant 14-18938S is gratefully acknowledged.

Biography :

Martin Topiar has completed his Master of Science in Synthesis and Production of Drugs from University of Chemistry and Technology Prague. Presently he is a PhD student at Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v.v.i. focusing on the SFE from plants with particular interest in a study of several types of fractionation techniques. He has published 3 papers in reputed journals and presented his work in many international conferences dealing with supercritical fluids.

Email: topiar@icpf.cas.cz