Isolation of Wax from Taro Leaves
Samples of lotus leaves will be washed meticulously by distilled water to withdraw contaminants
that are present on the leaves. Rinsing will be done carefully to avoid damaging of the wax
layers and structures. The process of Kalita & Talukdar (2018) of solvent extraction method will
be followed for the partition of wax from the taro leaf. The clean, fresh leaves of the said plant
will be cut into fragments. The researchers will prepare 20 mL of chloroform in a beaker and the
leaf fragments will be immersed completely in the chloroform for three minutes and after three
minutes, the chloroform will then be transferred into another beaker.A white cloudy layer of wax
will be seen floating on the chloroform. The solvent will be allowed to evaporate by letting it
stand for 10 minutes. Wax with chloroform isolated from the leaves of taro plant was coated on
the paper bags. The last step will be repeated two times until the hydrophobicity of the paper is
observed.
Solvent extraction method ( rewrite as needed to fit context of research, choose from
options given for the processes, which is manageable and would fit your budget)
Solvent extraction is a common method used to obtain plant extracts. Here are the specific
steps involved in the solvent extraction process:
Selection of Plant Material: Choose the plant material you want to extract. Ensure it's clean,
free from impurities, and dried if necessary.
Grinding or Chopping: Reduce the plant material into smaller pieces. Grinding or chopping
increases the surface area, allowing better contact with the solvent.
Selection of Solvent: Choose a suitable solvent based on the compounds you aim to extract.
Common solvents include ethanol, methanol, water, hexane, chloroform, etc. Consider the
polarity and solubility of the target compounds in selecting the solvent.
Extraction Process:(choose from the options)
a. Extraction Equipmen: Use an extraction apparatus like a Soxhlet extractor, maceration, or
ultrasonic bath, depending on the scale and specific requirements.
b. Macreation Method: In a vessel, immerse the plant material in the selected solvent. Let it
stand for a specified duration, ensuring periodic stirring or shaking for proper extraction.
c. Soxhlet Extraction Method: Involves continuous extraction by cycling hot solvent vapor
through the plant material for multiple rounds, allowing for efficient extraction.
d. Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE): Uses ultrasound waves to accelerate the extraction
process by creating cavitation, enhancing the solvent's penetration into the plant material.
Filtration: After the extraction process, filter the solvent and plant material mixture to separate
the liquid (extract) from the solid plant material.
Concentration of Extract:
a. Rotary Evaporation: Use a rotary evaporator to remove the solvent from the liquid extract
under reduced pressure and controlled temperature.
b. Freeze Drying: In some cases, freeze-drying (lyophilization) is used to remove the solvent,
preserving sensitive compounds in the extract.
Storage: Store the concentrated extract in appropriate containers, protecting it from light, heat,
and moisture to maintain its stability and potency.
(optional)Analysis and Testing: Conduct tests and analysis to determine the concentration of the
desired compounds in the extract. This can involve techniques like HPLC (High-Performance
Liquid Chromatography), GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), or other analytical
methods.
Wax confirmatory test
After the wax is extracted from the leaves by solvent-extraction method, the solvent (chloroform)
is evaporated. The wax is then dissolved in ethanol and transferred into a test tube. Few ml of
distilled water will then added to the solution and shaken.
