Extraction of Cinnamomum longepaniculatum deciduous leaves essential oil using solvent-free microwave extraction: Process optimization and quality evaluation

The optimal process conditions for solvent-free microwave extraction(SFME)of essential oils from Cinnamomum longepaniculatum deciduous leaves after moisture conditioning were established by response surface methodology(RSM).A Box-Behnken design(BBD)was applied to evaluate the effects of three independent variables:moisture content(A:54%–74%),microwave power(B:300–500 W)and microwave time(C:20–40 min),on the extraction yield of essential oil.The compounds of the essential oils obtained by SFME,hydro-distillation and microwaveassisted hydro-distillation(MADE)were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS),and the total lipids of C.longepaniculatum fresh leaves and deciduous leaves were analyzed.The correlation analysis of the response regression model indicated that quadratic polynomial model could be employed to optimize the extraction of essential oil.The optimal extraction condition was A:58%,B:400 W and C:28 min.In the optimal condition,the maximum extraction yield was 4.475 mL/100 g dw and higher than that by MADE.The main compound of the essential oil was eucalyptol(63.54%),and total oxygenated compounds was 78.95%,mainly caused by SFME and the metabolism of endophytic bacteria with decreasing content of phospholipids and fatty acids.Analysis of variance under the extraction condition illustrated high fitness of the model and the success of RSM for optimizing and reflecting the expected process condition.SFME combined with moisture regulation was an effective method for extracting essential oil from C.longepaniculatum deciduous leaves.

Analysis of Influence Factors for FCC Slurry Separation by Mixed Solvent Extraction

Daqing FCC slurry was treated using mixed solvent containing N,N-dimethylformamide(extraction solvent)and n-paraffin(stripping-agent).The influence of solvent formulation(ratio of DMF/stripping-agent),temperature,time and solvent-oil ratio on yield and aromatics content of the extract oil were analyzed by a four-factor and three-level orthogonal experimental design.The polynomial regression models between the extract oil yield and aromatics content with the four factors were established.Response surface analysis showed that solvent formulation,temperature and solvent-oil ratio have significant effects on extraction result and there is an interaction between temperature and solvent-oil ratio on aromatics content,when the FCC slurry is extracted by mixed solvent.However,the extraction time has no significant effect.The optimal conditions for FCC slurry extraction covered:a solvent mixed ratio of 2.3,a temperature of 62.8℃,a solvent-oil ratio of 3.2,and a time of 35 min.The result of verification experiment was in good agreement with the prediction of the model.

Seed priming improves early seedling vigor, growth and productivity of spring maize

Potential of seed priming treatments in improving the performance of early planted maize was evaluated against timely planting. Seeds of maize hybrid FH-810 were soaked in water (hydropriming), CaCl2 (2.2%, osmopriming), moringa leaf extracts (MLE 3.3%, osmopriming) and salicylic acid (SA, 50 mg L–1, hormonal priming) each for 18 h. Untreated and hydroprimed seeds were taken as control. Seeds primed with SA took less time in emergence and had high vigor in early planted maize. Amongst treatments, hormonal priming, reduced the electrical conductivity, increased the leaf relative and chlorophyl contents fol owed by osmopriming with CaCl2 at seedling stage. Likewise, plant height, grain rows and 1 000-grain weight, grain and biological yield and harvest index were also improved by seed priming;however hormonal priming and osmopriming with MLE were more effective in this regard. Improved yield performance by hormonal priming or osmopriming with MLE in early planting primarily owed to increased leaf area index, crop growth and net assimilation rates, and maintenance of green leaf area at maturity. In conclusion, osmopriming with MLE and hormonal priming with SA were the most economical treatments in improving productivity of early planted spring maize through stimulation of early seedling growth at low temperature.