Selective isolation of anethole from fructus anisi stellati(star anise) by supercritical fluid extraction

Abstract

Crude anethole over 90% purity (by GC) was obtained by extracting the ground star anise statically (10 min) and then dynamically (30 min) with supercritical carbon dioxide at a density of 0.35 g ml^–1 and a temperature of 80 °C. Pure anethole (99% by GC) could be obtained by passing the crude anethole onto a column packed with a mixture of silica and activated charcoal and eluted with 2% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether.