Response surface optimization of phenolic compounds extraction from steam exploded oak wood (Quercus mongolica)

Abstract

Steam explosion was applied to extract phenolic compounds from oak wood (Quercus mongolica). The effects of three independent factors (ethanol concentration, extraction temperature and extraction time) on the total phenolic content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and antimicrobial activity from the steam exploded oak wood were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The independent variables were coded at three levels and their actual values were selected on the basis of preliminary experimental results. The following optimal extraction conditions were selected: Ethanol concentration 82.0%, extraction temperature 71.7?, and extraction time 60.5 min for total phenolic content; ethanol concentration 78.3%, extraction temperature 70.3?, and extraction time 57.6 min for DPPH radical scavenging activity; ethanol concentration 80.6%, extraction temperature 68.4?, and extraction time 59.0 min for antimicrobial activity. The experimental values agreed with those were predicted within confidence intervals indicating the suitability of RSM in optimizing the ethanol extraction of phenolic compounds from the steam exploded oak wood. Under the optimized conditions, the experimental value of the total phenolic content was 111.8 mg GAE/g dry steam exploded oak wood, DPPH free radical scavenging activity was 65.7%, and antimicrobial activity was 17.0 mm, and those are reasonably close to the predicted values (109.2 mg GAE/g dry steam exploded oak wood, 62.3% and 15.9 mm, respectively).