Supercritical fluid extraction of limonoid glucosides from grapefruit molasses

Limonoid glucosides (primarily limonin 17-beta-D-glucopyranoside, LG) were extracted from grapefruit molasses by supercritical fluid extraction using a supercritical carbon dioxide-ethanol (SC CO(2)-ethanol) system. Extraction conditions to maximize the yield of LG were determined by varying pressure, temperature, ethanol concentration, and extraction time. The highest yield of LG at 0.61 mg/g molasses was obtained at a pressure 48.3 MPa, a temperature of 50 degrees C, 10% ethanol (X(Eth) = 0.1), and 40 min of extraction time at a flow rate of 5.0 L/min. The results demonstrated that SC CO(2) extraction of limonoid glucosides from grapefruit molasses has practical significance for commercial production.