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Evaluation of the extraction and stability of chlorophyll-rich extracts by supercritical fluid chromatography

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Abstract

In this study, a rapid (less than 10 min) analytical method by reverse-phase supercritical fluid chromatography was developed with an isocratic mobile phase, enabling the separation of 11 compounds, chlorophyll a and b, pheophytin a and numerous allomers or epimers. This method was used to examine the stability of chlorophyll pigments of plant extracts obtained with various extraction methods including microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), with ethanol as solvent or modifier. The effect of storage was studied for both liquid and dried extracts. Irrespective of the extraction method, the evaporation of the extracts induced partial degradation of the chlorophyll pigments. It was found that liquid extracts could be stored at 4 °C for 3 weeks without a dramatic change in allomer forms of chlorophylls. However, during this storage period, epimerization appears to be important, leading to a significant decrease in the chlorophyll b native form.

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  1. ICOA, CNRS UMR 7311, Université d’Orléans, rue de Chartres, BP 6759, 45067, Orléans Cedex 2, France

    Thibault Lefebvre, Emilie Destandau & Eric Lesellier

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  1. Thibault Lefebvre
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  2. Emilie Destandau
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Correspondence to Eric Lesellier.

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Lefebvre, T., Destandau, E. & Lesellier, E. Evaluation of the extraction and stability of chlorophyll-rich extracts by supercritical fluid chromatography. Anal Bioanal Chem 412, 7263–7273 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02859-3

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