Extraction And Purification Of Theasaponin From The Cake Of Camellia Oleifera Seeds

Theasaponin is a mixture of oleanen-type triterpene saponin. The techniques of extracting, purifying, and separating theasaponin were investigated. Its structure, surface-active properties, as a surfactant, were also studied.A spectrophotometric method to measure the content of theasaponin was established by using phosphoric acid-P-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde staining method. The absorption of the solution of 10 ml including 1 ml sample, 1 ml 3% P-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde alcohol solution and 1.5 mL phosphoric acid were measured at 525 nm after incubation at 70℃ for 15 minutes. The variance of coefficient and recovery rate were 1.61% and 99.44% respectively. Based on the theory of theasaponin extracting method, the optimum conditions for theasaponin extraction with water were : temperature 85℃, pH 10.0, fluid -solid ratio 10: 1, time 8 h. The application of membrane technology in the purification of the theasaponin was studied. A PVDF membrane with a cut-off molecular weight around 50,000 PVDF was used in the process of ultrafiltration. The content of theasaponin is 85.00% in the final product. About 95 % theasaponin was recovered from the original solution.Ion chromatogram, gas chromatogram, liquid chromatogram-mass spectrum were employed to study hydrolyzed theasaponin. The properties of theasaponin, as a surfactant, were studied. The critical micelle concentration, contact angle is 0.06% and 41.50 respectively. The study of the foaming properties of theasaponin showed theasaponin is a good foaming agent. The relationship between the structure and surface-active properties of theasaponin was discussed, and a theoritical basis for the application of theasaponin in the industries was established. The result of application study of theasaponin in shampoo indicated that the theasaponin shampoo has superior quality attributes.