Extraction
Extraction
Extraction
Experiment No: 2
Title of Experiments: Isolation of caffeine from Tea
I. INTRODUCTION
The objectives of the experiment are: to extract caffeine from the tea based on solid-liquid
and liquid-liquid extraction technique; to determine the percentage yield of the extraction; to
calculate recovery percentage of the sublimination process; and to identify the melting point
range of extracted caffeine; by comparing experimental melting point with literature
temperature, to observe the purity of produced caffeine.
Caffeine is an alkaloid, structurally related to the purine bases as shown in a figure 1.
II. MATERIALS
The chemical equipment consisted of: 1x 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask, separatory funnel (1x 250
ml), Buchner funnel, Erlenmeyer flask (1x 125 ml), glass funnel, rounded flask (1x 100 ml),
graduated cylinder (1x 10ml), pipette (1x 50 ml), petri dish, hot plate, vacuum pump and
melting point apparatus.
III. CHEMICALS
Table 1. Physical-chemical properties of reagents
Compound MM, m.p., b.p., Density, Solubility Flamm Toxicity/
g/mol oC o
C g/mL ability hazards
calcium 100.09 825 - 2.7-2.9 Slightly - Causes eye
carbonate ℃ soluble in irritation, may
a water cause skin
irritation.
Ingestion of
large amounts
may cause
gastrointestinal
irritation.
[1]
Water 18.013 0 99.9 0.997 Poorly - -
4 8 liquid at soluble in [2]
25℃; aliphatic
0.917 and
solid aromatic
hydrocarb
ons
Methylene 84.93 -97 39 1.33 - 1 Causes skin and
chloride eye irritation,
may cause
drowsiness,
cancer, damage
to organs
through
prolonged
exposure
[3]
Sodium 58.44 801 1461 2.165 360 g/L 0 Causes skin and
chloride (20℃) eye irritation
[4]
Magnesium 120.37 1124 - 2.65 26 g/100 0 May cause skin
sulfate ml and eye
irritation
[5]
V. DISCUSSION
The experiment is aimed to extract caffeine from the tea by applying solid-liquid and liquid-
liquid extraction methods based on solubility of the caffeine in used solvents.
It was determined that the melting point of purified (after sublimation) caffeine is in the range
of 233.5-235.1℃, while for crude one is 224.7-244.3℃. By comparing the melting point
ranges 1.6℃ and 19.6℃ for pure and impure caffeine respectively, it can be concluded that
impurity in a compound (such as tannins) decrease the actual melting point and expand the
melting temperature range. The literature temperature estimates that caffeine starts to melt at
233℃ and ends at 236℃ . The experimentally obtained caffeine fits that range ideally,
indicating high purity of the product.
In-lab questions:
1) The objectives of the experiment are: to extract caffeine from the tea based on solid-
liquid and liquid-liquid extraction technique; to determine the percentage yield of the
extraction; to calculate recovery percentage of the sublimination process; and to
identify the melting point range of extracted caffeine; by comparing experimental
melting point with literature temperature, to observe the purity of produced caffeine.
The liquid-liquid and batch extraction have been introduced as the new techniques.
2) The percentage yield of the extraction:
% = 0.12/(6x1.79g) x100 = 1.1173 percent
According to the theory, 2-3.5 percent of the caffeine is expected to be concentrated in
a tea. The obtained data is lower due to during the extraction of caffeine, emulsion
between immiscible layers.
3) The recovery of the sublimation:
Recovery = 0.03/0.12 x 100 = 25%
The low recovery percentage can be explained by loss of the product during scratching
out of the round-bottom flask and insufficient number of repeated extractions.
4) The melting point range of pure caffeine (233.5-235.1℃) corresponds to expected
value (tabled temperature, 233-236℃ ), indicating high purity of the product.
7)
Due to the presence of polar keto group, acetone possesses a permanent dipole
moment. Petroleum ether due to the absence of polar carbonyl group is accounted as
nonpolar compound. So, acetone is more polar.
8)
Petroleum ether is insoluble in water which enhance the formation of immiscible layers.
Bibliography:
[1] – Material Safety Data Sheet for calcium carbonate. Retrieved from:
https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/03880.htm
[2] – Material Safety Data Sheet on water. Retrieved from:
https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/00199.htm
[3] – Material Safety Data Sheet on methylene chloride. Retrieved from:
https://www.fishersci.com/msdsproxy%3FproductName%3DD3720%26productDescr
[4] – Material Safety Data Sheet on Sodium chloride. Retrieved from:
https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/21105.htm
[5] – Material Safety Data Sheet on magnesium sulfate. Retrieved from:
https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/13510.htm