Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: AoisPokemaster on September 26, 2021, 11:09:48 PM
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Hey guys, I am the idiot who was researching curcumin extracted from turmeric powder a while back, I hope you guys remember me T^T thanks to all of you I have reached the final stages of my investigation. I am troubled by one thing right now...Why is curcumin insoluble in hexane, one of the most non-polar solvents, and ALSO in water. Additionally, can anyone find literature on the EXACT value of the solubilites of curcumin in a many different organic solvents? It is really hard to find as I don't think there are anyone who has done studies on it before, thank you everyone here in advance! T^T
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Like you , I cannot find exact solubilities in different solvents.
However, curcumin is listed as soluble in methanol, ethanol, glacial acetic acid.
Looking at the structure of curcumin, I wonder if toluene, one of the xylenes, or ethylbenzene may be suitable.
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Solubility doesn't work like that. It might very well be soluble in solvents that fall in between water and hexane (in terms of polarity).
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If you scroll down on this page you have some data, curcumin is not very soluble:
https://www.scbt.com/p/curcumin-458-37-7
Its probably a lot different in alkaline water, it should be very soluble in 0.1M NaOH.
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@OP,
Why would solubility of curcumin be dependent upon pH? Also, there is acetone to consider as a possible solvent. What are its properties?
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The solvent to use depends somewhat on the proposed use of the solution.
Some higher boiling solvents, NOT really suitable for chromatography, to try would be
DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide)
N,N-DMF (N, N-dimethylformamide)
HMPA (hexa-methyl-phosporic triamide)
Pyridine.
Maybe even glycerol or hydroxymethyl-benzene.
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Solubility in DMSO is in my last post if you scroll down. HMPA is carcinogenic so its in most labbs forbidden to use, at least here in Sweden.
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I just asked a friend who did their PhD in curcumin. Said acetone is best, about 50mg/ml, then ethanol and method about 10mg/ml depending on the purity of curcumin.