Selective Separation of α-Punicalagin, β-Punicalagin, and Ellagic Acid from Pomegranate Husk Aqueous Extract by an Optimized Adsorption Process Employing a (Deep) Eutectic Solvent

Author(s)

de Oliveira, Isadora Lopes ; Strieder, Monique Martins ; Bragagnolo, Felipe Sanchez ; Sanches, Vitor Lacerda ; Mesquita, Leonardo Mendes de Souza ; Vigano, Juliane ; Rostagno, Mauricio Ariel

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Food and Bioprocess Technology; v. N/A, p. 12-pg., 2024-09-28.

Abstract

This research proposes an innovative and simplified adsorption/desorption method using renewable solvents to obtain punicalagin and ellagic acid-rich fractions from pomegranate husk. The type of adsorbents (PoraPak Rxn and Sepra C18-E), adsorbent mass (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 g), adsorption temperature (20, 40, and 60 degrees C), pH of the extract (4, 6, and 8), and desorption solvents (a 1:2 betaine eutectic mixture and hydroalcoholic solutions) were evaluated. The optimized adsorption process involved 0.5 g of PoraPak Rxn and 7.5 mL extract at pH 4 and 20 degrees C for 5 min. Notably, PoraPak Rxn outperformed Sepra C18, exhibiting superior adsorption due to its favorable hydrophobic properties, porous structure, and affinity for the target compounds. The optimized method adsorbed 93% alpha-punicalagin, 95% beta-punicalagin, and 100% ellagic acid. Betaine:glycerol at a 1:2 molar ratio was selected using COSMO-RS for desorption. The eutectic mixture with 50 wt.% water desorbed 91% alpha-punicalagin, 73% beta-punicalagin, and 6% ellagic acid during the first three desorption cycles. Subsequent three desorption cycles using ethanol yielded a desorption of 62% ellagic acid free of punicalagins. This strategy of employing different desorption solvents proved efficient in recovering fractions with high concentrations of the desired compounds. Overall, this research demonstrates a promising approach for the efficient separation of punicalagins and ellagic acid from pomegranate husk extract. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/11022-1 - Integrated biorefinery of agricultural wastes to obtain natural dyes and value-added bioactive compounds
• Grantee: Leonardo Mendes de Souza Mesquita
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 20/08421-9 - Application of non-volatile alternative solvents to create sustainable two-dimensional and integrated platforms for harnessing agro-industrial waste from jaboticaba and pomegranate fruits
• Grantee: Leonardo Mendes de Souza Mesquita
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 22/10469-5 - Application of in silico tools for the extraction of bioactive compounds from agro by-products by gas-expanded liquids and green switchable solvents
• Grantee: Felipe Sanchez Bragagnolo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 21/12264-9 - A techno-economic evaluation of emerging technologies and green solvents coupling to the two-dimensional system of extraction, separation and analysis to obtain phenolic compounds from waste of the coffee and plant-based beverages industry
• Grantee: Monique Martins Strieder
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/13496-0 - Multi user equipment approved in grant 2018/14582-5: ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography system (UHPLC), composed by a quaternary pump, autoinjector, oven with selection valve and detector (PDA)
• Grantee: Maurício Ariel Rostagno
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 21/13638-0 - Development of active packaging through the extraction of bioactive compounds from pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.)
• Grantee: Isadora Lopes de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 18/14582-5 - Development of a two-dimensional extraction, separation and analysis system for evaluating the bioactivity of phytochemicals
• Grantee: Maurício Ariel Rostagno
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants - Phase 2
• FAPESP's process: 23/05722-6 - Biorefinery of the vegetable almond and peanut-based milk processes: study of technologies and alternative solvents to obtain bioactive compounds from their solid residues
• Grantee: Monique Martins Strieder
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor