Simultaneous separation and purification of chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, hyperoside and phlorizin from thinned young Qinguan apples by successive use of polyethylene and polyamide resins

•The adsorption of the four phenolics on X-5 conformed to Langmuir isotherms better.•The adsorption kinetics of CH and EC conformed to pseudo-first-order model better.•The adsorption kinetics of HY and PH accorded with pseudo-second-order model better.•Qe in preferential adsorption kinetics model was closer to Q0 in Langmuir isotherms.•4 Phenolics were isolated simutaneously by successive use of X-5 and polyamide resins.

The method for separating and purifying chlorogenic acid (CA), epicatechin (EC), hyperoside (HY) and phlorizin (PH) simutaneously from young Qinguan apples by successive use of X-5 and polyamide resins has been developed in this study. The order of adsorption capacities of X-5 for the four phenolics was PH > HY > EC > CA, and the adsorption equilibriums of the four phenolics onto X-5 resin conformed to Langmuir isotherms preferentially. The adsorption kinetics of EC and CA onto X-5 conformed to the pseudo-first-order model, while that of HY and PH accorded with the pseudo-second-order model. Interestingly, the values of equilibrium adsorption capacities (Qe) calculated in the preferential kinetics models were closer to that of theoretical maximum adsorption capacities (Q0) calculated by Langmuir isotherms. Through dynamic adsorption and desorption using X-5 and polyamide resins with ethanol solution as strippant, CA, EC, HY and PH were obtained with purities of 96.21%, 95.34%, 95.36% and 97.36%, respectively.