A novel and efficient method combining SFE and liquid–liquid extraction for separation of coumarins from Angelica dahurica

Nowadays supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) as an alternative is popular in food and pharmaceutical industries but its large scale application is often restricted economically by the confliction between recovery efficiency and selectivity. In this article, a simple but novel and efficient combined method was investigated for separating coumarins from Angelica dahurica. The experimental results showed that combining SFE and liquid–liquid extraction could improve both extraction selectivity and separation efficiency, enriching easily coumarins from 0.144% in the herb to as much as 41.68% in the concentrate.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ SFE was used to extract coumarins from Angelica dahurica. ▶ RIC was calculated to judge the separation efficiency. ▶ Petroleum ether/water extraction was designed to remove low polar impurities. ▶ Petroleum ether/60% methanol extraction was designed to purify the coumarins.