Tea polyphenols, as an important bioactive ingredient in tea, have attracted much attention due to its various health benefits such as anti-oxidation, radiation protection, and anti-aging. Efficient and accurate extraction of tea polyphenols from tea is of great significance to enhance its application value. Centrifugal extractor, as an advanced separation technology, plays a key role in the extraction process of tea polyphenols. This article will explore in depth the application and advantages of centrifugal extractor in tea polyphenol extraction.

Introduction to tea polyphenols

Tea polyphenols is a general term for polyphenols in tea. It is a white amorphous powder that is easily soluble in water and organic solvents such as ethanol and methanol, but insoluble in chloroform. Its main components include flavanones, anthocyanins, flavonols, phenolic acids and phenolic acids, among which flavanones (mainly catechin compounds) are the most important, accounting for 60% to 80% of the total tea polyphenols. Tea polyphenols not only determine the color, aroma and taste of tea, but are also the main chemical components of tea with health functions.

Working principle of centrifugal extractor

Centrifugal extractor is a device that uses centrifugal force to accelerate the liquid-liquid extraction process. When the mixture is placed in the centrifugal cup of a rotating centrifuge, the centrifugal force causes the denser material to move to the outside of the centrifugal cup, while the less dense material moves to the center of the centrifugal cup. In this way, the substances are separated. By controlling the rotation speed and centrifugal time of the centrifuge, the target substance can be effectively separated from other impurities.

Application of centrifugal extractor in tea polyphenols extraction

Raw material preparation and solvent selection:

Raw materials: Select high-quality tea leaves as raw materials and crush them to increase the contact area and improve the extraction efficiency.

Solvent: According to the solubility characteristics of tea polyphenols, select suitable solvents (such as ethanol, methanol, etc.) to dissolve tea polyphenols. When selecting solvents, consider their safety, solubility and convenience for subsequent processing.

Mixing and stirring:

Mix the crushed tea leaves with the selected solvent in a certain proportion, stir or soak them for a period of time under appropriate conditions so that the tea polyphenols can be fully dissolved in the solvent.

Centrifugal extraction:

Put the mixed liquid into a centrifugal extractor, and generate strong centrifugal force through high-speed rotation, so that different components in the liquid are separated according to density differences. The solution formed by tea polyphenols dissolved in the solvent will be separated from the solid residue under the action of centrifugal force.

Collection and purification:

After centrifugation, carefully remove the supernatant (i.e. the solvent containing tea polyphenols), and further purify and concentrate the tea polyphenols by evaporation and concentration.

Solvent recovery:

For the remaining solvent, it can be recycled and reused by distillation and other methods, which saves costs and is beneficial to environmental protection.

Advantages of centrifugal extractors

Efficient separation: The centrifugal extractor can quickly separate tea polyphenols from other impurities and improve the extraction efficiency.

Strong controllability: By adjusting the rotation speed and centrifugal time of the centrifuge, the extraction process can be precisely controlled to ensure the purity of tea polyphenols.

Environmentally friendly: The centrifugal extraction process does not require the use of a large amount of chemical reagents, which reduces environmental pollution.

Wide range of applications: The centrifugal extractor is not only suitable for laboratory-scale tea polyphenol extraction, but also for large-scale extraction in industrial production.

Things to note

During actual operation, you also need to pay attention to the following points:

Temperature control: Ensure the temperature is appropriate during the extraction process to avoid oxidative degradation of tea polyphenols.

pH adjustment: Appropriate pH value contributes to the stability and extraction efficiency of tea polyphenols.

Safety: Follow relevant food safety standards to ensure the safety of the final product.

As an advanced separation technology, centrifugal extraction machine has significant advantages in the extraction process of tea polyphenols. Its characteristics of high efficiency, controllability and environmental protection make the extraction of tea polyphenols more efficient and accurate. With the continuous advancement of technology and the deepening of its application, centrifugal extraction machines will play a greater role in the extraction of tea polyphenols, providing more possibilities for the tea processing and health care products industries.