Separation and purification of polyprenols from Ginkgo biloba L. leaves by bulk ionic liquid membrane and optimizing parameters

Polyprenols extracted from Ginkgo biloba L. leaves (GBL) are known for their biological functions (antioxidant, antimicrobial, antivirus, hepatopmtective, and antitumor properties). Nevertheless, the conventional methods of polyprenol separation lack selectivity and has a low separation efficiency. As a result, effective methods for separating and purifying polyprenols have become a major research focus in the pharmaceutical and healthy food industries. In this study, the separation and purification of GBL's polyprenols were performed. The transport of polyprenols from GBL via a bulk liquid membrane containing AgBF4 as a carrier was examined. The optimization parameters were: 1-hexene, 308 K, 500 rpm, 1% wt %, 72 h for the stripping phase, system temperature, stirring speed, the carrier concentration in membrane phase, and transport time, respectively. Additionally, the purity of polyprenols increased from 48.2% to 78.1%, recovery was 73.5 %, and a permeability coefficient of 0.24 cm/h was obtained under these conditions. The kinetic parameters (k(1), k(2), t(max), R-l(m)ax, J(l)(ma)(x), J(s)(m)(ax)) at 308 K were determined for the interface reactions assuming two consecutive irreversible first-order reactions as: 2.36 x 10(-2), 0.87 x 10(-2) (h(-1)), 68.64 (h), 0.57, -0.47 x 10(-2) (h(-1)) and 0.47 x 10(-2) (h(-1)), respectively. These values indicated that the polyprenols' transport process combines two processes: complex diffusion in the membrane phase and chemical reactions at two independent and possibly different interfaces. The experiments demonstrated that the bulk liquid membrane system significantly affected the separation and enrichment of polyprenols. The study provided an effective polyprenol separation and purification approach, and the basis for potential polyprenol-based medications, cosmetics, and health products.