EXTRACTION METHODS FOR CAFFEINE FROM Camellia sinensis

Abstract

Mints are considered to be aromatic where the leaves fresh or dried are used as culinary source. The main application of the mint is against stomach ache and chest pains. Caffeine is a substance present in tea giving the pleasant and stimulant effect. The tea samples, raw and in bags from Mentha Spicata were bought from local market and the fresh sample was from the garden. Extraction methods were Soxhlet with the use of methanol with three cycles and boiling tea samples with water as solvent in the period of one hour. Lead(II) acetate was used to separate tannins from caffeine followed by filtration through filter paper with black ribbon. To 5 cm3
of the filtrate was added 3 drops of 0.1% ferric chloride. A brownish green showed positive test for tannins. The determined pH values for fresh, raw and tea in bags were 5.94, 5.92, and 5.89, respectively.