AN EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN FOR PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS EXTRACTION FROM FLAX SEEDS

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimization function for the extractionof phenolic compounds from flax seeds. Our preliminary design includes tree independent variables at two levels (8experiments): hydrolysis temperature (60 and 80oC), extraction time (3 and 4 h) and solvent composition (ethanol/water60:40 and 80:20 v/v). The dependent variable used in order to evaluate the extraction process of the total phenolic contentof extracts obtained from flax seeds was expressed in gallic acid equivalent (mg GAE/L). Using RSM, a polynomialequation was obtained by multiple regression analysis for predicting optimization of the extraction protocol. Maximumyield was obtained when hydrolysis temperature, extraction time and solvent composition were 80oC, 4 h and 60:40 (v/v),respectively. This relation can be useful in the development and optimization of industrial extraction processes.