Optimization of Ethanolic-Soxhlet Extraction of Natural Dye from Almond Leaves using Box-Behnken design approach

Abstract

This work reports on optimization of extraction of natural dye from leaves of almond tree using Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to design experimental factors and analyze the results statistically. The natural dye obtained would be aimed to substitute synthetic dyes which are harmful and caused pollution to the environment. The ethanol and soxhlet apparatus were employed to perform the extraction through experimental design obtained from Behnken-Box Design expert. Extraction conditions under which empirical research work was performed are temperature, time and amount of plant material, with aim to optimize amount of dye extract yield and color strength responses. The amount of dye extract obtained was quantitatively determined using gravimetric and uv spectrophotometric analyses. The results of the analysis reveal that temperature, time, square of amount of feed material can influence dye yield and color strength of dye extract. The results further reveal that the yield and color strength of dye extract obtained increased as the extraction conditions increased. The phytochemical analysis performed on the dye extract reveals the existence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, phenol and terpenoids in the dye extract. The dye extract can impart medicinal functional properties among others on textiles in view of the presence of these bioactive constituents in the dye extract.