Targeted analysis of sea buckthorn oil extracted by accelerated solvent extraction technique using green and conventional solvents
Arnau Vilas-Franquesa, Bibiana Juan, Jordi Saldo
Abstract
Sea buckthorn oil (SBO) was extracted using accelerated solvent extraction with two green solvents (ethanol and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran), and two petroleum-based solvents (hexane and diethyl ether) at four different temperatures (60, 90, 120 and 150 °C), using one extraction cycle at 103.42 bar, 10 min static time, 5 min preheating and 30% flushing volume. β-carotene and α-tocopherol were quantified jointly using HPLC-UV/VIS and the fatty acid profile was analyzed using GC-MS. Extraction yield was also measured and the data was compared to a conventional extraction using Soxhlet. The extraction with ethanol achieved significantly higher concentrations of β-carotene in the final oil (1.67 mg/g oil) compared to the results of any other solvent (e.g. 1.23 mg/g oil for hexane ASE) or to the conventional extraction (1.27 mg/g oil). However, the use of green solvents led to the dragging of unwanted polar compounds (sugars), leading to lower oil yield values after purification.