Separation of solanesol in tobacco leaves extract by slow rotary counter-current chromatography using a novel non-aqueous two-phase solvent system

Non-aqueous solvent system composed of sunflower oil–ethanol was found to be suitable for the separation of lower polarity components. Employing this solvent system, 3 g of tobacco leaves extract containing 15% solanesol was separated using a slow rotary counter-current chromatograph equipped with an 1100 mL column made of 5.7 mm I.D. convoluted PTFE tube. The separation yielded 1.5 g of yellow oily product in which solanesol occupied 26.8% determined by HPLC. The tobacco tar and other main impurities in the tobacco leaves extract were removed after slow rotary counter-current chromatographic separation. The separation processing may be developed as a technique for producing a solanesol product with food grade.