A multi-stage counter-flow process for extracting glycyrrhizic acid from the licorice plant

Azizi Haghighat, Zeinab; Seifkordi, Aliakbar; Akbarzadeh, Azim; Arjmand, Mehdi

doi:10.22104/ift.2025.7485.2207

A multi-stage counter-flow process for extracting glycyrrhizic acid from the licorice plant

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Chemical Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Pilot Nanobiotechnology, Pasteur Instiute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22104/ift.2025.7485.2207

Abstract

In this study, licorice root extract was obtained using a multi-stage countercurrent extraction method at bench scale, and the content of glycyrrhizic acid was investigated. The effects of various parameters including temperature, extraction time, number of extraction stages, and solvent-to-solid ratio were evaluated. The optimal extraction conditions were determined using response surface methodology (RSM). Statistical analysis revealed that temperature, time, and number of extraction stages had significant effects on the extraction yield. Under the optimized conditions temperature of 46.17 °C, extraction time of 5.98 hours, solvent-to-solid ratio of 7.70 cc/g, and 4 stages the maximum glycyrrhizic acid extraction yield was 78.7%.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

This study performed a statistical analysis and optimized glycyrrhizic acid extraction conditions, utilizing RSM to maximize the glycyrrhizic acid yield.
The findings indicate that the quadratic statistical model reliably and accurately predicts response parameters.
The multi-stage countercurrent extraction method serves as an efficient extraction technology for medicinal plants, minimizing energy and solvent usage.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Chemical engineering

References

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