Quantification of Saponins in Quinoa Mojuelo (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) for Use at Industrial Scale

Abstract

Abstract This study is a quantitative analysis of the obtained percentages of saponin from the quinoa peel (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) at different concentrations of ethanol and water. The process was also evaluated to be promoted at an industrial level. The main method used to chemically treat the quinoa peel for the production of crystalized saponin were soaking, maceration, cooling, sedimentation, filtration, evaporation, and drying. Nine tests were conducted with ethanol at 5%, 15%, and 25% for the extraction and maceration of saponin. The refrigeration time oscillated at 24, 36, and 48 hr while the sedimentation process took place. In the latter stage of this process, the starches and other insoluble compounds precipitated. The evaporation and drying stages were the key points for obtaining the crystallized saponin. Quantitative analysis by UV-visible spectrometry was performed to obtain the reference values of purified saponin. The results showed that the finest process to obtain saponin from ethanol was at a concentration of 15% and a cooling time of 24 hr, where the production of saponin was about 25.01%. Based on the results obtained, the process was scaled up at an industrial level under the most viable operating parameters showing that treating around 300 quintals of quinoa peel could annually produce 70 quintals of crystallized saponin.

Keywords

• unit operations, quinoa (chenopodium quinoa willd.), mojuelo, ethanol, quantification, industrial scaling.