Extraction of inflorescences of Musa paradisiaca L. using supercritical CO2 and compressed propane

• Inflorescences of Musa paradisiaca L. extracts were obtained with scCO2 and propane.
• Higher extract yields were obtained with scCO2 as solvent.
• Extracts obtained with scCO2 and propane presented different chemical compositions.

This work aimed to investigate the extraction of inflorescences of Musa paradisiaca L. using supercritical CO2 and compressed propane as solvents. The extractions were performed in a laboratory scale unit at temperature and pressure range of 313.15–353.15 K and 15–25 MPa for carbon dioxide and 308.15–338.15 K and 3–10 MPa for propane extractions, respectively. A 22 factorial experimental design with three replicates at central point was adopted to organize the data collection. The highest extraction yields were 3.60 wt% using scCO2 at 313.15 K and 25 MPa and 3.14 wt% with compressed propane at 338.15 K and 10 MPa. The overall extraction curves were modeled using a model based on the BET theory of adsorption. The kinetic model allowed correlating the different conditions of extraction with both scCO2 and compressed propane. The pressure of scCO2 presented a positive effect on the extraction yield of M. paradisiaca L. while temperature presented a negative effect. On the other hand, the increase of temperature allowed higher extraction yields of M. paradisiaca L. when propane was used. The most volatile fraction from the scCO2 extracts were composed by lupenone, methyl 2-hydroxy-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-acetate, pentacosane, 3,6,9-nonacosatriene, 10-hentriacontene and, 7,23-dimethyltritriacontane while for compressed propane extracts lupenone and 7,23-dimethyltritriacontane were the major constituents.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide