Method to recover bioactive compounds

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for separating bioactive compounds obtained from vegetable materials. The invention also relates to a process for extracting bioactive compounds from vegetable material.

1 . A process for the separation of bioactive compounds, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting a plurality of bioactive compounds with a first polymer adsorbent under conditions allowing adsorption of at least one bioactive compound on to the first adsorbent while at least one bioactive compound is not adsorbed on to the first adsorbent;   (b) collecting a solution comprising the at least one bioactive compound which has not adsorbed on to the first adsorbent; and   (c) contacting the solution obtained in step (b) with a second polymer adsorbent under conditions allowing adsorption of at least one bioactive compound contained in the solution obtained in step (b) on to the second adsorbent, wherein the first polymer adsorbent and the second polymer adsorbent comprise different polymeric materials.   
     
     
         2 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bioactive compounds comprises a flavanone glycoside and a limonoid glucoside, and wherein the flavanone glycoside is adsorbed on to the first polymer adsorbent and the limonoid glucoside is adsorbed on to the second polymer adsorbent to substantially separate the flavanone glycoside and the limonoid glucoside. 
     
     
         3 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer adsorbent is an acrylic. 
     
     
         4 . A process according to  claim 3 , wherein the first polymer adsorbent is an acrylic ester. 
     
     
         5 . A process according to  claim 4 , wherein the first polymer adsorbent is polymethylmethacrylate. 
     
     
         6 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the second polymer adsorbent is capable of adsorbing to non-polar compounds. 
     
     
         7 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the second polymer adsorbent is polystyrene-divinyl benzene. 
     
     
         8 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer adsorbent and the second polymer adsorbent are each arranged in a column. 
     
     
         9 . A process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 contacting the at least one bioactive compound adsorbed on the first polymer adsorbent with an eluent under conditions allowing desorption of the at least one bioactive compound from the first adsorbent; and   eluting the at least one bioactive compound from the first absorbent.   
     
     
         10 . A process according to  claim 9 , wherein the eluent comprises alcohol and water. 
     
     
         11 . A process according to  claim 10 , wherein the concentration of alcohol in the eluent remains substantially constant during desorption of the at least one bioactive compound from the first polymer adsorbent. 
     
     
         12 . A process according to  claim 10 , wherein the concentration of alcohol in the eluent increases during desorption of the at least one bioactive compound from the first polymer adsorbent. 
     
     
         13 . A process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 contacting the at least one bioactive compound adsorbed on the second polymer adsorbent with an eluent under conditions allowing desorption of the at least one bioactive compound from the second adsorbent; and   eluting the at least one bioactive compound from the second absorbent.   
     
     
         14 . A process according to  claim 13 , wherein the eluent comprises alcohol and water. 
     
     
         15 . A process according to  claim 14 , wherein the concentration of alcohol in the eluent remains substantially constant during desorption of the at least one bioactive compound from the second polymer adsorbent. 
     
     
         16 . A process according to  claim 14 , wherein the concentration of alcohol in the eluent increases during desorption of the at least one bioactive compound from the second polymer adsorbent. 
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 contacting the at least one bioactive compound eluted from the second polymer adsorbent with an ion exchange resin under conditions allowing ionic interactions between the at least one bioactive compound and the resin such that the at least one bioactive compound is adsorbed on to the resin.   
     
     
         18 . A process according to  claim 17 , wherein the ion exchange resin is an anion exchange resin. 
     
     
         19 . A process according to  claim 18 , wherein the ion exchange resin is a weak base anion exchange resin. 
     
     
         20 . A process according to  claim 17 , wherein the ion exchange resin is arranged in a column. 
     
     
         21 . A process according to  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 contacting the at least one bioactive compound adsorbed on the ion exchange resin with a solution comprising a solute under conditions allowing the solute to displace the at least one bioactive compound from the resin; and   eluting the at least one bioactive compound from the resin.   
     
     
         22 . A process according to  claim 21 , wherein the solute is a salt. 
     
     
         23 . A process according to  claim 22 , wherein the salt is sodium chloride. 
     
     
         24 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bioactive compounds are obtained from a citrus fruit.