Extraction and HPLC characterization of chlorogenic acid from tobacco residuals

Chlorogenic acid is a highly valuable natural polyphenol compound used in medicine and industries. Its current commercial sources are from plant extracts of Lonicera japonica Thunb and Eucommia ulmoides Oliver. These sources are limited and expensive. On the other hand, tobacco residuals contain chlorogenic acid and other natural polyphenol compounds. Large quantities of tobacco residuals are produced each year as waste materials from tobacco manufacturing, potentially providing an alternative commercial source of chlorogenic acid and other valuable compounds. In this paper, microwave and ultrasound extractions of chlorogenic acid with mixed solvent were studied. Total polyphenol concentrations in extract solutions obtained with different extraction methods were analyzed with the method of ferrous tartrate and UV-Vis spectrophotometry and compared. The extraction solutions were also characterized for polyphenol compositions with the method of HPLC. Experimental results indicated that high extract concentrations of chlorogenic acid were obtained with a mixed solvent of acetone and water ( 1: 2 v/v). A total polyphenol concentration of up to 4.87 mg/ml and a chlorogenic acid concentration of up to 2.12 mg/ml were achieved. The application of microwave and ultrasound significantly increased the extract concentrations. The extraction time needed was also much reduced. HPLC analysis indicated that acetone water mixed solvent extraction achieved much higher relative concentrations of chlorogenic acid to other compounds in the extract solutions. These results indicted that fast and effective extraction of chlorogenic acid from tobacco residuals were achieved.