Separation, Purification and Recovery of Resveratrol from Wine Waste Using Aqueous Two-Phase Separation

The technology described provides an efficient method for separating a polyphenolic compound (such as resveratrol) from biomass, the method comprising feeding the biomass into an aqueous two-phase system with a polymer phase and a salt phase and separating the polymer phase, which includes the polyphenolic compound, from the salt phase. The polymer used in the process may be a polyether and the salt may be selected from potassium sodium tartrate, sodium citrate, potassium phosphate, ammonium sulphate, and any combinations thereof.

Biomass is milled prior to feeding it to the aqueous two-phase system so that it may be homogenised. The aqueous two-phase system has relative proportions of the polymer-salt solution selected to enhance resveratrol separation from the biomass. The method then includes a step of recovering the polyphenolic compound at least partially from the polymer phase. This step may be performed by protein precipitation to yield a polyphenol-protein precipitate or by the addition of a second polymer phase into a second aqueous two-phase system. The second polymer phase may comprise a carbohydrate. The resveratrol-protein precipitate or resveratrol-polymer solution are then dried to yield a polyphenol-containing powder.

The method allows for recycling of the polymer phase and salt phase in the aqueous two-phase system, separating the polyphenolic compound from the biomass. The resveratrol-protein precipitate obtained by protein precipitation and the resveratrol-polymer powder obtained from the second aqueous two-phase system may be used in medicaments and dietary and nutraceutical supplements amongst other applications.