MCM-41 as selective separator of chlorophyll-a from β-carotene and chlorophyll-a mixture

In this work, microporous (zeolite A, X and HS) and mesoporous (MCM-41, F-MCM-41 and MCM-48) silicate materials were used as adsorbents to separate the chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) from the mixture of Chl-a and β-carotene (β-Car). The adsorbent capacities were determined to be MCM-41 ∼ MCM-48 > F-MCM-41 > zeolite X > zeolite A > zeolite HS. It was found that the mesoporous MCM-41 and MCM-48 selectively adsorb the Chl-a from β-Car. The adsorbed Chl-a on MCM-41 can be extracted by polar MeOH solvent. No degradation of MCM-41 was observed during the course of separation process. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm experiments showed that the well ordered hexagonal structure of MCM-41 is present and surface area, pore volume and pore diameter have been decreased after adsorption.