Simultaneous extraction and separation of compounds from mate (Ilex paraguariensis) leaves by pressurized liquid extraction coupled with solid-phase extraction and in-line UV detection

The in-line coupling of the pressurized liquid extraction with a solid-phase adsorbent and a UV-Vis detector for the simultaneous extraction and separation of bioactive compounds from yerba mate (PLE-SPE-UV) was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, water was used as a solvent, while in the second stage, ethanol was used. For the optimization of the method, different adsorbents (Sepra C18-E, Isolute C18-EC, and Strata-X C18), temperatures (40-80 degrees C), solvent flow-rate (1-3 mL/min), and pH (4.0 and 8.0) were evaluated. By using a UV-Vis detector on-line, it is possible to monitor the process in real-time. The developed method allowed obtaining similar or higher recoveries of all the compounds classes than other methods, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, stirring, maceration, and pressurized liquid extraction alone, in addition to separating them into fractions. The developed method could be used as sample preparation for the analysis of different compounds classes from mate.

Automated summary

The study utilized the in-line coupling of pressurized liquid extraction with solid-phase adsorbent and a UV-Vis detector in two stages for extracting and separating bioactive compounds from yerba mate. By monitoring the process in real-time with the UV-Vis detector online, similar or higher recoveries of all compound classes were obtained, along with separating them into fractions.