Supercritical fluid chromatography for the analysis of natural dyes: From carotenoids to flavonoids.

Plant-derived natural dyes are used in a variety of formulated products, from food to cosmetics and pharmaceutics. In addition to their color, they also provide some bioactivity. While they are mostly analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography was also employed for several dye families, mostly for carotenoids and chlorophylls, and more recently for anthraquinones and flavonoids. These supercritical fluid chromatography methods are described in this review. Because the dyes have different structures and structural variations (polarity, isomers, etc.), the best chromatographic system to achieve their separation is not always the same. Hydrophobic stationary phases are preferred for the most hydrophobic dyes (chlorophylls and carotenoids) while polar stationary phases are preferred for the polar dyes (anthraquinones and flavonoids). Regarding the mobile phase composition, chlorophylls and carotenoids are best eluted with moderate proportions of co-solvent in CO2 (about 40%), while the most polar glycosylated flavonoids require higher proportions of co-solvent and acidic additives. Because dyes are colorful, ultraviolet-visible detection is often sufficient, while mass spectrometry offers additional structural information. Furthermore, fundamental information can also be gained through chromatographic analysis of dyes: either solubility in supercritical fluids, in view of their extraction, or retention behavior providing an understanding of stationary phase properties.

The effect of tandem coupling of NicoShell and TeicoShell columns in sub/supercritical fluid chromatography on enantioresolution.

The coupling of columns in sub/supercritical fluid chromatography presents a great opportunity for influencing the separation efficiency and extending the selectivity of the separation system. Combinations of different types of chiral stationary phases could positively affect the enantioresolution if single ones are complementary to each other. In this work, two superficially porous particle (2.7 µm) macrocyclic glycopeptide-based columns, namely TeicoShell and NicoShell, were serially coupled and tested in sub/supercritical fluid chromatography for the first time. The influence of the column arrangement on the enantioseparation of structurally diverse biologically active compounds was examined. The obtained results showed how the column order crucially affected the enantioresolution of compounds tested, but the retention was negligibly affected in most cases. We also demonstrated that single TeicoShell and NicoShell columns are very promising towards the development of highly efficient and fast/ultrafast sub/supercritical fluid chromatography methods for structurally different chiral compounds. The optimized methods for sub-minute enantioselective separation of certain biologically important compounds were proposed.

Characterising polar compounds using supercritical fluid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SFC-NMR).

To detect and characterise compounds in complex matrices, it is often necessary to separate the compound of interest from the matrix before analysis. In our previous work, we have developed the coupling of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for the analysis of nonpolar samples [Van Zelst et al., Anal. Chem., 2018, 90, 10457]. In this work, the SFC-NMR setup was successfully adapted to analyse polar samples in complex matrices. In-line SFC-NMR analysis of two N-acetylhexosamine stereoisomers was demonstrated, namely N-acetyl-mannosamine (ManNAc) and N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc). ManNAc is a metabolite that is present at elevated concentrations in patients suffering from NANS-mediated disease. With our SFC-NMR setup it was possible to distinguish between the polar stereoisomers. Until now, this was not possible with the standard mass-based analysis techniques. The concentrations that are needed in the SFC-NMR setup are currently too high to be able to detect ManNAc in patient samples (1.7 mM vs. 0.7 mM). However, several adaptations to the current setup will make this possible in the future.

Supercritical fluid chromatography-a technical overview and its applications in medicinal plant analysis: an update covering 2012-2018.

Medicinal plants with complex matrices are endowed with a wide scope of biological activities. The separation, quantification, characterization and purification of bioactive components from herbal medicine extracts have always challenged analysts. Fortunately, the advancement of various emerging techniques has provided potent support for improving the method selectivity, sensitivity and run speeds in medicinal plant analyses. In recent years, the advent of new-generation supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) instruments and a wide diversity of column chemistries, coupled with the intrinsic technical features of SFC, have made it an alternative and prominent analytical platform in the medicinal plant research area. This work aims to give a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals, technical advancement and investigating parameters of SFC in combination with three prevalent detectors. Moreover, the latest research progress of SFC applications in medicinal plant analyses is illuminated, with focus on herbal medicine-related SFC papers on the analytical and preparative scale that were published during the period of 2012 to December 2018. The most relevant applications were classified based on the constituents to be analysed. As for the respective research cases, analytical protocols and data processing strategies were provided, along with the indicated restrictions or superiority of the method; thus, the current status of SFC in medicinal plant analysis was presented.

Extraction of Astaxanthin and Lutein from Microalga Haematococcus pluvialis in the Red Phase Using CO2 Supercritical Fluid Extraction Technology with Ethanol as Co-Solvent.

Astaxanthin and lutein, antioxidants used in nutraceutics and cosmetics, can be extracted from several microalgal species. In this work, investigations on astaxanthin and lutein extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) in the red phase were carried out by means of the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technique, in which CO2 supercritical fluid was used as the extracting solvent with ethanol as the co-solvent. The experimental activity was performed using a bench-scale reactor in semi-batch configuration with varying extraction times (20, 40, 60, and 80 min), temperatures (50, 65, and 80 °C) and pressures (100, 400, and 550 bar). Moreover, the performance of CO2 SFE with ethanol was compared to that without ethanol. The results show that the highest astaxanthin and lutein recoveries were found at 65 °C and 550 bar, with ~18.5 mg/g dry weight (~92%) astaxanthin and ~7.15 mg/g dry weight (~93%) lutein. The highest astaxanthin purity and the highest lutein purity were found at 80 °C and 400 bar, and at 65 °C and 550 bar, respectively.

Supercritical Fluid Chromatography with Photodiode Array Detection in the Determination of Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Hemp Seed Oil and Waste Fish Oil.

In the presented study for the first time a new, optimized, fast SFC (supercritical fluid chromatography) method was applied to separate in one run fat-soluble vitamins from waste fish oil, including cis-and trans-retinyl palmitate, cis- and trans-retinyl acetate, retinol, α-tocopherol, ß-tocopherol, γ­tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, ergocalciferol (D2), cholecalciferol (D3), cis- and trans-phylloquinone (K1) and menaquinone-4 (K2-MK4). Vitamins were baseline separated on an Acquity UPC² (ultra performance convergence chromatography) HSS C18 SB (highly strength chemically modified silica) column within 13 min. The influence of the stationary phase, such as Torus 1-AA (1-aminoanthracene), Torus Diol (high density diol), Torus DEA (diethylamine), BEH (silica with no bonding), BEH-2EP (2-ethylpirydine), CSH Fluoro-Phenyl (silica with fluoro-phenyl groups), column temperature, flow rate and back pressure on the separation of the compounds was described. The application of the modified saponification procedure allowed us to increase concentration in the sample prepared for the analysis of γ­tocopherol from less than 1% (wt %) to 14% for the first time. In addition, α­tocopherol, γ­tocopherol, δ­tocopherol and retinol were identified in waste fish oil. Vitamin purification and analysis in waste fish oil are reported for the first time here. Due to the short time and effectiveness of the proposed method, it can be easily applied in industrial processes.

Enzyme-assisted supercritical fluid extraction: an alternative and green technology for non-extractable polyphenols.

This contribution proposes an enzyme-assisted eco-friendly process for the extraction of non-extractable polyphenols (NEPPs) from black tea leftover (BTLO), an underutilized tea waste. BTLO hydrolyzed with various enzyme formulations was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide and ethanol as co-solvent (SC-CO2 + EtOH). A conventional solvent extraction (CSE) was performed using EtOH + H2O (80:20, v/v) for comparison purposes. The results revealed that hydrolysis of BTLO with 2.9% (w/w) kemzyme at 45 °C and pH 5.4 for 98 min improved the liberation of NEPPs offering 5-fold higher extract yield (g/100 g) as compared with non-treated BTLO. In vitro antioxidant evaluation and LC-MS characterization of extracts revealed the presence of phenolic acids (mainly caffeic and para-coumaric acid) of high antioxidant value. Scanning electron micrograph of the hydrolyzed BTLO samples indicated noteworthy changes in the ultrastructure of BTLO. Moreover, polyphenol extracts obtained by SC-CO2 + EtOH extraction were found to be cleaner and richer in polyphenols as compared to CSE. The devised enzyme-assisted SC-CO2 + EtOH extraction process in the present work can be explored as an effective biotechnological mean for the optimal recovery of antioxidant polyphenols. Graphical abstract Enzymatic pretreatment can effectively liberate non-extractable polyphenols (NEPPs) while hydrolyzing the cellulosic and hemicellulosic framework of black tea left overs (BTLO).

A comparative study on composition and antioxidant activities of supercritical carbon dioxide, hexane and ethanol extracts from blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) growing in Poland.

BACKGROUND: Large quantities of blackberry seeds are produced as a pomace during the processing of juice and jam production; this by-product is a very interesting raw material both for oil manufacturing and as a source of bioactive compounds. In this work the composition, yield and antioxidant activity of three types of Rubus fructicosus pomace extracts isolated by liquid extraction using solvents of different polarity, as well with supercritical CO2 fluid extraction have been compared. RESULTS: The highest extract yield was reported for Soxhlet extraction using ethanol as a solvent (14.2%). Supercritical carbon dioxide and hexane extracts were characterised by the highest content of phytosterols (1445 and 1583 mg 100 g-1 of extract, respectively) among which ß-sitosterol was the main one, while the concentration of tocopherols, with predominant γ-isomer, was the highest for both hexane and ethanol extracts, being 2364 and 2334 mg 100 g-1 , respectively. Using a GC-MS method 95 volatiles, in which non-saturated aldehydes were predominant, were identified in the essential oil of seed pomace and in the volatile oil isolated from supercritical extract. The ethanolic extract which is characterised by the highest phenolic content (9443 mg GAE 100 g-1 ) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (according to the ABTS•+ and DPPH• assays). CONCLUSION: All pomace extracts examined were of high quality, rich in essential omega fatty acids and with a very high content of bioactive compounds, such as phytosterols and tocopherols. The high nutritional value of extracts from berry seed pomace could justify the commercialisation of specific extracts not only as food additives but also as cosmetic components. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Pushing the speed limit in enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography.

Chromatographic enantioseparations on the order of a few seconds can be achieved by supercritical fluid chromatography using short columns packed with chiral stationary phases. The evolution of 'world record' speeds for the chromatographic separation of enantiomers has steadily dropped from an industry standard of 20-40 min just two decades ago, to a current ability to perform many enantioseparations in well under a minute. Improvements in instrument and column technologies enabled this revolution, but the ability to predict optimal separation time from an initial method development screening assay using the t(min cc) predictor greatly simplifies the development and optimization of high-speed chiral chromatographic separations. In this study, we illustrate how the use of this simple tool in combination with the workhorse technique of supercritical fluid chromatography on customized short chiral columns (1-2 cm length) allows us to achieve ultrafast enantioseparations of pharmaceutically relevant compounds on the 5-20 s scale, bringing the technique of high-throughput enantiopurity analysis out of the specialist realm and into the laboratories of most researchers.

Optimization and simulation of tandem column supercritical fluid chromatography separations using column back pressure as a unique parameter.

Tandem column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) has demonstrated to be a useful technique to resolve complex mixtures by serially coupling two columns of different selectivity. The overall selectivity of a tandem column separation is the retention time weighted average of selectivity from each coupled column. Currently, the method development merely relies on extensive screenings and is often a hit-or-miss process. No attention is paid to independently adjust retention and selectivity contributions from individual columns. In this study, we show how tandem column SFC selectivity can be optimized by changing relative dimensions (length or inner diameter) of the coupled columns. Moreover, we apply column back pressure as a unique parameter for SFC optimization. Continuous tuning of tandem column SFC selectivity is illustrated through column back pressure adjustments of the upstream column, for the first time. In addition, we show how and why changing coupling order of the columns can produce dramatically different separations. Using the empirical mathematical equation derived in our previous study, we also demonstrate a simulation of tandem column separations based on a single retention time measurement on each column. The simulation compares well with experimental results and correctly predicts column order and back pressure effects on the separations. Finally, considerations on instrument and column hardware requirements are discussed.

Development of an automated dual-mode supercritical fluid chromatography and reversed-phase liquid chromatography mass-directed purification system for small-molecule drug discovery.

We report the development of a dual-mode mass-directed supercritical fluid chromatography and reversed-phase liquid chromatography purification system. The addition of a third pump allows for flexible mobile phase control between the two techniques, and enables operation of either chromatography mode within minutes by activation of a set of switching valves on a single system. Software control, fluidic pathways, interface to the mass spectrometer, and fraction collection have been modified for compatibility between both separation methods. The conditioning solvent and tuning parameters for the mass spectrometer were adjusted to achieve an ideal signal trace in either mode with good linearity (r(2) > 0.970) over a range of concentrations and minimal noise for accurate peak detection and isolation. The registration success rate is 90% and overall sample recovery for either technique is 80-90%. Combining two orthogonal separation and purification modes in one single system has improved the purification throughput of complex mixtures and has been a valuable, cost-saving tool in our laboratory.

Effects of organic modifier and temperature on the enantiomeric separation of several azole drugs using supercritical fluid chromatography and the Chiralpak AD column.

The effects of organic modifier and temperature on the enantioseparation of 10 triazoles and eight imidazoles, using supercritical fluid chromatography with the Chiralpak AD column, have been investigated in this work. For this purpose four different organic modifiers (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol and acetonitrile) were evaluated. Only in the case of two compounds could the enantiomeric separation not be achieved with any of the modifiers tested; the rest of compounds were baseline or partially resolved with at least one of the modifiers. The alcohol-type modifiers provided the best results in terms of retention time and resolution. In general, retention increased in the order methanol < ethanol < 2-propanol; moreover it was possible to establish a relationship between the retention and the number of aromatic rings and dioxolane groups in the molecule, that is, the higher the number is, the higher the retention time. From the study of the temperature effect, the enthalpy-entropy compensation was demonstrated for all the compounds, except for bifonazole using methanol and miconazole using acetonitrile. This suggested that both analytes are enantiomerically resolved through different mechanisms.

Enantiomeric separation of proton pump inhibitors on new generation chiral columns using LC and supercritical fluid chromatography.

The enantioselectivity of proton pump inhibitors, namely, omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole, tenatoprazole, and ilaprazole were studied using new generation chiral packing materials: CHIRALPAK IA, CHIRALPAK IB, and CHIRALPAK IC. Two versatile techniques, HPLC and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) were used in this study. CHIRALPAK IC has shown superior selectivity under both LC and SFC conditions, whereas CHIRALPAK IA has shown good selectivity in SFC when compared to LC under primary screening conditions. The chiral recognition ability in LC and SFC modes were found to be in the order CHIRALPAK IC > CHIRALPAK IA > CHIRALPAK IB. In addition to diode array detection, chiral detection was carried out using a laser polarimeter and the elution orders were found to be the same in both LC and SFC elution modes. Mobile phase modifiers and column temperature effects were also studied. In SFC, modifiers (cosolvent) elution strength was found to be in the order ethanol > methanol > 2-propanol > acetonitrile. In both LC and SFC, a decrease in retention and increase in resolution with an increase in temperature was noticed for all the proton pump inhibitors.

Combination of supercritical fluid extraction with counter-current chromatography to isolate anthocyanidins from the petals of Chaenomeles sinensis based on mathematical calculations.

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) coupled with high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used for the extraction and on-line isolation of the anthocyanidins from the petals of Chaenomeles sinensis in two stages. The SFE parameters were optimized by an orthogonal test, and the solvent systems of SFE and HSCCC were calculated and optimized with the help of a multiexponential function model. In the first stage, the lower phase of the solvent system of n-butanol/tert-butyl methyl ether/acetonitrile/0.1% aqueous TFA (0.715:1.0:0.134:1.592, v/v/v/v) was used as both the SFE modifier and the HSCCC stationary phase, after extraction, the extractants were pumped into HSCCC column, and then eluted with the corresponding upper phase to isolate the moderately hydrophobic compounds. In the second stage, the upper phase of the solvent system of n-butanol/ethyl acetate/acetonitrile/0.1% aqueous TFA (1.348:1.0:0.605:2.156, v/v/v/v) was used as both the SFE modifier and the HSCCC stationary phase, followed by elution with the corresponding lower phase to separate the hydrophobic compounds. With the help of two-stage SFE/HSCCC, six compounds including delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (Dp3G), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Cy3G), peonidin-3-O-glucoside (Pn3G), delphinidin (Dp), peonidin (Pn), and malvidin (Mv) were successfully separated within 300 min. The targeted compounds were identified by UV spectrophotometry, MS, and NMR spectroscopy. This research has opened up great prospects for the industrial application of SFE-HSCCC for the automatic extraction and separation of unstable compounds.

Parameters optimization of supercritical fluid-CO2 extracts of frankincense using response surface methodology and its pharmacodynamics effects.

The volatile oil parts of frankincense (Boswellia carterii Birdw.) were extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide under constant pressure (15, 20, or 25 MPa) and fixed temperature (40, 50, or 60°C), given time (60, 90, or 120 min) aiming at the acquisition of enriched fractions containing octyl acetate, compounds of pharmaceutical interest. A mathematical model was created by Box-Behnken design, a popular template for response surface methodology, for the extraction process. The response value was characterized by synthetical score, which comprised yields accounting for 20% and content of octyl acetate for 80%. The content of octyl acetate was determined by GC. The supercritical fluid extraction showed higher selectivity than conventional steam distillation. Supercritical fluid-CO(2) for extracting frankincense under optimum condition was of great validity, which was also successfully verified by the pharmacological experiments.

[Optimization of supercritical fluid extraction of bioactive components in Ligusticum chuanxiong by orthogonal array design].

With the yields of ferulic acid, coniferylferulate, Z-ligustilide, senkyunolide A, butylidenephthalide, butylphthalide, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, riligustilide, levistolide A, and total pharmacologically active ingredient as evaluation indexes, the extraction of Ligusticum chuanxiong by supercritical fluid technology was investigated through an orthogonal experiment L9 (3(4)). Four factors, namely temperature, pressure, flow rate of carbon dioxide, co-solvent concentration of the supercritical fluid, were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, namely 65 degrees C of temperature, 35 MPa of pressure, 1 L x min(-1) of CO2 flow rate, 8% of co-solvent concetration, supercritical fluid extraction could achieve a better yield than the conventional reflux extraction using methanol. And the supercritical fluid extraction process was validated to be stable and reliable.

Pressurized fluid extraction of essential oil from Lavandula hybrida using a modified supercritical fluid extractor and a central composite design for optimization.

Essential oil components were extracted from lavandin (Lavandula hybrida) flowers using pressurized fluid extraction. A central composite design was used to optimize the effective extraction variables. The chemical composition of extracted samples was analyzed by a gas chromatograph-flame ionization detector column. For achieving 100% extraction yield, the temperature, pressure, extraction time, and the solvent flow rate were adjusted at 90.6°C, 63 bar, 30.4 min, and 0.2 mL/min, respectively. The results showed that pressurized fluid extraction is a practical technique for separation of constituents such as 1,8-cineole (8.1%), linalool (34.1%), linalyl acetate (30.5%), and camphor (7.3%) from lavandin to be applied in the food, fragrance, pharmaceutical, and natural biocides industries.

Synthesis and chromatographic evaluation of new polymeric chiral stationary phases based on three (1S,2S)-(-)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine derivatives in HPLC and SFC.

Three new polymeric chiral stationary phases were synthesized based on (1S,2S)-1,2-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)ethylenediamine, (1S,2S)-1,2-bis(2-chlorophenyl)ethylenediamine, and (1S,2S)-1,2-di-1-naphthylethylenediamine via a simple free-radical-initiated polymerization in solution. These monomers are structurally related to (1S,2S)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine which is the chiral monomer used for the commercial P-CAP-DP polymeric chiral stationary phase (CSP). The performance of these three new chiral stationary phases were evaluated in normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and supercritical fluid chromatography and the results were compared with those of the P-CAP-DP column. All three new phases showed enantioselectivity for a large number of racemates with a variety of functional groups, including amines, amides, alcohols, amino acids, esters, imines, thiols, and sulfoxides. In normal phase, 68 compounds were separated with 28 baseline separations (Rs ≥ 1.5) and in SFC, 65 compounds were separated with 24 baseline separations. In total 72 out of 100 racemates were separated by these CSPs with 37 baseline separations. Complimentary separation capabilities were observed for many analytes. The new polymeric CSPs showed similar or better enantioselectivities compared with the commercial column in both HPLC and SFC. However, faster separations were achieved on the new stationary phases. Also, it was shown that these polymeric stationary phases have good sample loading capacities while maintaining enantioselectivity.

[Component difference of herb materials extracts with sesame oil fry and SFE-CO2 technique for compound ulcer oil].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the component difference of herb materials extracts of sesame oil fry and SFE-CO2 technique for compound ulcer oil. METHOD: Qualitative analysis of main component of dahuan, baizhi and chuangxiong in two extracts above was conducted by TLC. The contents of total anthraquinones, imperatorin and ferulic acid in two extracts were determined by UV and HPLC. RESULT: TLC experiment found that spots color of small Rf value component in oil extract were lighter than that in SFE-CO2 extract, but there was not obvious different between two extracts. Quantity analysis showed that SFE-CO2 extract owned much higher transfer rate of total anthraquinones, and it was 1.9 times of oil extract. Ferulic acid was similar in two extracts, and they were all below 10%. The contents of imperatorin in oil extracts were slight higher than that in SFE-CO2 extract. CONCLUSION: The components in the extracts of sesame oil fry for the herb materials of compound ulcer oil are the same as SFE-CO2 extract. Because SFE-CO2 extracts have no solvent limited for next preparation, it has more advantage.

Simultaneous determination of six non-polar heterocyclic amines in meat samples by supercritical fluid extraction-capillary electrophoresis under fluorimetric detection.

A novel, sensitive and selective method for the separation and quantification of a group of non-polar heterocyclic amines (9H-pyrido-[3,4-b] indole, norharmane; 1-methyl-9H-pyrido-[3,4-b] indole, harmane; 2-amino-9H-pyrido-[2,3-b] indole, AalphaC; 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido-[2,3-b] indole, MeAalphaC; 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b] indole, Trp-P-1 and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b] indole, Trp-P-2) in commercial meat samples has been developed. This methodology is faster than others previously described. The method is based on the combination of a supercritical fluid extraction procedure, followed by the analysis of the extracted plug by CE with fluorescence detection. The supercritical fluid extraction procedure was optimized for the clean-up of the samples and the extraction of the analytes. For the electrophoretic separation, the effect of composition, pH and concentration of buffer, organic modifier content, pressure and time of injection, capillary temperature and voltage applied were studied. A 10 mmol/L formic acid-ammonium formate-ACN (10%, v/v) solution at pH 1.5 was selected as the running electrolyte. With 5-s hydrodynamic injection, linear responses in the range from 100 to 1000 ng/mL and detection limits ranging from 15.9 to 28.1 ng/mL were obtained for different amines in less than 13 min. ACN-water (1:1 in volume) was used as a sample solvent. Fluorescence detection enhances the sensitivity and avoids interferences coming from non-fluorescent compounds present in the matrices of the sample extracts.