Objective:

 To extract piperine from black pepper using solvent extraction by 95%ethanol.

 To determine the melting point of piperine.
 To determine the purity of piperine by thin layer chromatography.

Observation: -

Water was kept circulating

through
the condenser during reflux to
ensure that all
the reactants were being
converted into
products
Water was kept circulating
through
the condenser during reflux to
ensure that all
the reactants were being
converted into
products
The apparatus was set up for the extraction process as shown below in Figure 1. At first, piece of
cotton wool was placed at bottom of the hole at right corner of the thimble to avoid the escape of
material from the thimble during extraction process. Then, 150 ml of 95% ethanol was poured into
round bottom flask. The apparatus was clamped with retort stand. The heating process was started
at 12.15 pm. After few minutes, the solvent started to boil and we can observe the vapour from
ethanol travel through the high efficiency extractor(Soxhlet flask) before condensing and dripping. At
this point, the solvent in round bottom flask was colourless. At 12.23 pm, the first drop to the flask
was observed which indicates the reaction has started. The ethanol drips down from the condenser
travels into the siphon tube and evens the pressure. Once everything is at the top, gravity takes over
and pulls the ethanol back to boiling process.The ethanol was same level as the siphon tube.Water
was kept circulating through the condenser during reflux to ensure that all the reactants were being
converted into products.