Project number
16100
Organization
UA Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Academic year
2016-2017
Tannic acid is a polyphenol found some plants and trees that causes a dry mouthfeel by decreasing saliva levels. It is also used in the food-processing, cosmetic and anticorrosion industries. Tannic acid is traditionally extracted from high-concentration sources such as pomegranates, but it also exists in many plants native to the Southwest.
The goal of this project is to explore the feasibility of extracting tannic acid from mesquite bark. Using a common solvent, a group of compounds was extracted from the biomass. The extract was separated using column chromatography and analyzed using common lab techniques.
After achieving the desired purity, the team designed a plan for a pilot-scale plant that incorporated calculations of economic feasibility, market demand, energy consumption, process schematics, and future outlook.
The goal of this project is to explore the feasibility of extracting tannic acid from mesquite bark. Using a common solvent, a group of compounds was extracted from the biomass. The extract was separated using column chromatography and analyzed using common lab techniques.
After achieving the desired purity, the team designed a plan for a pilot-scale plant that incorporated calculations of economic feasibility, market demand, energy consumption, process schematics, and future outlook.