Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is a preparative extraction/separation technique working with biphasic liquid systems. CCC is mainly used in natural products purification. One phase is used as the mobile phase when the other is the stationary phase hold in place by centrifugal fields. Limonene is a biorenewable cycloterpene solvent coming from orange peel waste.   It is evaluated as a possible greener substitute for heptane in CCC separations. There are two main types of CCC instruments (called 'columns' since it is chromatography): the hydrostatic CCC columns and the hydrodynamic CCC columns. Hydrostatic columns are based on a rotor with a single axis containing interconnected cells retaining the liquid stationary phase. Hydrodynamic CCC columns are made by one or several coils of open tubing. The variable centrifugal field allows retaining the liquid stationary phase. The two types of CCC columns show very different behaviors when used with limonene and heptane. This is a good opportunity to evidence the abilities of both types of CCC equipments when dealing with green solvents.

Use of limonene in countercurrent chromatography: A green alkane substitute from orange waste

246th National Meeting (2013)

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