Ionic Liquid-Based Dispersive Extraction and Separation of Phenolic Acids from Salicornia Herbacea L.

This study reports the application of a dispersive extraction method for the extraction and separation of phenolic acids from Salicornia Herbacea L. using silica-confined ionic liquids as the sorbent. A suitable sorbent for phenolic acid extraction and separation was first identified based on the adsorption behavior of phenolic acids on different silica-confined ionic liquids. The sample was then mixed with the optimized sorbent and solvent to achieve dispersive extraction. After transferring the supernatant to an empty cartridge, a solid phase extraction process was used to separate the three organic acids from other interferences. Through systematical optimization, the optimal conditions were obtained with high recovery rates of protocatechuic acid (98.1%), caffeic acid (89.4%), and ferulic acid (92.2%). Overall, the proposed method expected to have wide applicability.