Hello guys,
I am extracting leaves and roots from 2 different plants by using maceration method (organic ext- Chloroform: Methanol). I did rotary evaporated my samples and they tend to have "syrup-like" consistency (probably due to presence of glucose). I wanted to take them out, but scrapping them using spatula could be wasteful. I mixed the rotary-evaporated extracts with chloroform and put the mixture in my storaging flask. I leave it under the fume hood for 2 days to dry. However, i am wondering are there any biochemistry reactions occurred within this period?
If no warm or hot air is applied by a fan, then this atmospheric drying "as it is called in industrial chemistry" will not change the character of the product. However, the norm of this operation is turn the product upside down in the tray so as all of it gets dry. Leaving it to dry for 2 days, without turning the product, will dry the exterior while the interior will continue to be wet with traces of the solvent.
Hello
From what you described it will not be affected, depending on the sensitivity of your target compound (s) to air (oxygen). also, generally one can not get an even drying under normal fume hood drying. It is always good if you can compare your desired properties with samples obtained from vacuum drying or Freeze drying
There are chances of atmospheric oxidation if you keep everything open to the air. Since plant extracts have many oxidisable natural compounds they tend to get oxidised specially when solvent is totally removed. I would advise you to not to dry in air, rather remove solvent totally by high vacuum and mild heating (below 50 deg C) and still some syrup type liquid remains, you migh have to add water in it, freeze it and then do freeze drying/ lyophilisation, this is safer route, ofcouse expensive but in many cases it is preferred in order to save the compounds from atmospheric oxidation. If you find out that your compound is very much susceptible to oxidation, you may have to be careful in storing the compounds after drying too.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Phytochemistry
- Extracts