Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves
Extraction of Caffeine from Tealeaves
Perez, Albert Solomon K.*; Quiambao, Marie Angela C;.Pascua, Hanna Harriette R.; Patricio, Maria Roxanne DC.;
2-Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
University of Santo Tomas
España St., 1015, Manila
Abstract
Caffeine is soluble in both water and organic solvents, solid-liquid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction were used in the experimentation process. Caffeine was extracted using hot water, however, due to its medium polarity; it was further separated from water soluble compounds using a polar non-protic solvent, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2). Sublimation was then used for the purification of the targeted compound. Based from the data collected, 5.758g of tea leaves contains 3.96% caffeine. After the purification process, 0.2279g of caffeine was obtained from 0.4948g crude extract with 46.06% yield. Melting point determination was used to characterize the caffeine yielded. However, the melting point range of the caffeine collected (190°C -215 °C) was lower than the melting point of the accepted value (238 °C) which may be due to experimental errors committed in the extraction and washing process.
Introduction Tea has been consumed as a beverage for almost 2,000 years starting in China. It is the most widely consumed beverage after water [1].Their active participation in trade resulted in its introduction to Europe. The active component in tea is caffeine (C8H10N4O2). Caffeine belongs to an extensive class of compounds known as the alkaloids. Alkaloids are a diverse group of compounds that are found primarily in plants and contain basic nitrogen atom(s). The basic nature of these compounds makes them exists mostly as salts. Many alkaloids have profound effects on the nervous system and acts as a mild stimulant examples are other well-known alkaloids such as morphine, strychnine, quinine, ephedrine, and nicotine. Aside from being a mild stimulant, caffeine is one of the most
Perez, Albert Solomon K.*; Quiambao, Marie Angela C;.Pascua, Hanna Harriette R.; Patricio, Maria Roxanne DC.;
2-Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
University of Santo Tomas
España St., 1015, Manila
Abstract
Caffeine is soluble in both water and organic solvents, solid-liquid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction were used in the experimentation process. Caffeine was extracted using hot water, however, due to its medium polarity; it was further separated from water soluble compounds using a polar non-protic solvent, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2). Sublimation was then used for the purification of the targeted compound. Based from the data collected, 5.758g of tea leaves contains 3.96% caffeine. After the purification process, 0.2279g of caffeine was obtained from 0.4948g crude extract with 46.06% yield. Melting point determination was used to characterize the caffeine yielded. However, the melting point range of the caffeine collected (190°C -215 °C) was lower than the melting point of the accepted value (238 °C) which may be due to experimental errors committed in the extraction and washing process.
Introduction Tea has been consumed as a beverage for almost 2,000 years starting in China. It is the most widely consumed beverage after water [1].Their active participation in trade resulted in its introduction to Europe. The active component in tea is caffeine (C8H10N4O2). Caffeine belongs to an extensive class of compounds known as the alkaloids. Alkaloids are a diverse group of compounds that are found primarily in plants and contain basic nitrogen atom(s). The basic nature of these compounds makes them exists mostly as salts. Many alkaloids have profound effects on the nervous system and acts as a mild stimulant examples are other well-known alkaloids such as morphine, strychnine, quinine, ephedrine, and nicotine. Aside from being a mild stimulant, caffeine is one of the most