AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR THE EXTRACTION OF CHLOROPHYLL FROM GREEN LEAVES

摘要

The invention disclosed in this application relates to an improved method for the extraction of chlorophyll from green leaves which comprises (a) squeezing the green leaves, (b) mixing the resulting squeezed leaves with a solvent selected from ethyl acetate, methanol or a mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane, (c) heating the resulting mixture to a temperature in the range of 45-50 deg C, (d) filtering the extract, (e) adjusting the pH of the extract obtained, (f) evaporating to remove the solvent, (g) dissolving the resulting concentrate in a hydrocarbon solvent selected from hexane, heptane, preferably hexane, (h) washing with aqueous solution of a mild alkali selected from sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, and removing the aqueous layer by gravity separation, and (i) distilling the solution at a temperature not exceeding 70 deg C and under vacuum to get the chlorophyll.