Extraction of Caffeine

from Tea Leaves

Experiment #3
Balbuena, Czarina Joy
Chua, Allyza Dominique
Cuden, Kenneth
Espinosa, Paul Henry
Grico, Diandra

INTRODUCTION

Abstract
Caffeine

was extracted from tea leaves using

solid-liquid extraction and liquid-liquid
extraction. Multiple liquid-liquid extractions were
found to yield higher amounts of caffeine than
single liquid-liquid extractions. Many sources of
error may have occurred such as leakage or
spilling of substances.

Objectives
To isolate

caffeine from tea leaves

To calculate

the percentage yield of caffeine

To differentiate

solid-liquid and liquid-liquid extraction

To differentiate

single and multiple extraction

Extraction
Removing

a desired compound from one vehicle by the

use of an extracting solvent

In

this case, it is the removal of caffeine from tea

leaves by the use of dichloromethane

We

used solid-liquid extraction (boiling the tea leaves)

Liquid-liquid

extraction (adding dichloromethane and

extracting the organic layer)

Differential Solubility
The

concept that the solubility of different

substances are different depending on the
solvents

Tea leaves
Contain

not only caffeine but various other

structures like some polymeric polyphenols like
tannins

We

use differential solubility to separate caffeine

and tannins using dichloromethane

Caffeine (C8H10N4O2)

Caffeine (C8H10N4O2)
An

alkaloid, and therefore a nitrogenous organic

base of plant origin

The

caffeine in tea leaves is the same as the

caffeine in coffee

Huge

doses can be lethal

Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2)

Distribution Coefficient (K)

Ratio

of the concentration of the solute in each

solvent at a particular temperature

Independent

of the total concentration and the

actual amounts of the two solvents used

The

higher K is, the higher the amount of caffeine

that will be extracted

Distribution Coefficient (K)

K = (x) (volume in ml of extracting solvent or CH2Cl2)

(weight of mixture x) (volume in ml of water)

Materials, Set-up,
and Methodology

Materials
Beaker
Hot

plate

Separatory

Funnel

Erlenmeyer

Flask

Evaporating

Dish

Iron

Ring and Iron Stand

Commercial Tea Leaves

1 spatula of
anhydrous
Na2SO4
20 mL 6M NaOH
60 mL CH2Cl2

Set-up

Upper Layer

Separatory
Funnel

Lower Layer
Stopcock

Erlenmeyer
Flask

Set- up

Lower Layer
(Dichloromethane)

Upper Layer (Tea

Extract)

Methodology

Discussion

Experimental Data
Group No.

Type of Extraction

Weight of Tea leaves

% Yield of Caffeine

Multiple

11.9000 g

1.06%

Single

11.7027 g

0.32%

Single

11.8284 g

0.54%

Multiple

10.7021 g

0.38%

Single

11.5600 g

0.42%

Multiple

12.1500 g

0.16%

Single

11.8370 g

0.16%

Multiple

11.7807 g

0.19%

Single

11.9000 g

0.40%

10

Multiple

11.8256 g

0.11%

Graph

Comparison
Group No.

Type of Extraction

Weight of Tea leaves

% Yield of Caffeine

Single

11.9000 g

0.40%

Multiple

11.9000 g

1.06%

Group No.

Type of Extraction

Weight of Tea leaves

% Yield of Caffeine

Single

11.8370 g

0.16%

10

Multiple

11.8256 g

0.11%

Group No.

Typeof Extraction

Weight of Tea leaves

% Yield of Caffeine

Single

11.7027 g

0.32%

Multiple

11.7807 g

0.19%

 As observed in other identical experiments, using

Multiple extraction is better than using Single
extraction.
Multiple extraction generate more equilibrium
stages of mass transfer wherein the solute is
distributed between the 2 liquid phases.
The distribution of the solute in the 2 liquid phases
is controlled or defined by the distribution
coefficient (K).
Single extraction will generate less yield because
the distribution coefficient of the solute will not
change even if the quantity of the solvent being
used is increased.

Solid-Liquid vs Liquid-Liquid Extraction

Solid-Liquid

Extraction the polar molecules with

lower molecular weight dissolves in the solvent (hot
water) and are removed from the higher molecular
weight-containing cellulose, protein, and lipid
material.

Liquid-Liquid

Extraction extraction is dependent on

the relative solubilities of the compounds and the
two immiscible solvents that will serve as the two
liquid phases where the solute will be distributed.

CONCLUSION

Solid-liquid extraction used a solvent to remove soluble

compounds from solids while Liquid-liquid extraction used
a liquid solvent to separate a liquid component from a
liquid mixture.

Single extraction yielded less caffeine than the multiple

extraction.

The percent caffeine extracted from a tea sample using

multiple extraction yielded a higher result.

SOURCES OF ERROR

 Wrong

weighing of tea leaves (weight w/ string,

staple wire etc.)

Leakage

of tealeaves when heated because of the

re-tying of string to the teabags

Some

of the liquid (containing caffeine) reaming

in the wet bag

The

distribution coefficient is not perfect

Dichloromethane

evaporates rapidly affecting the

weight of final product

RECOMMENDATION

 Experiment on different brands and kinds of tea

leaves
Try extracting other substances from tea leaves
(tannin salts)
Use different products to extract caffeine
Research on other extraction experiments

REFERENCES

 K. Williamson and M. Katherine (2011). Macroscale and

Microscale Organic Experiments, 6th ed. Brooks/Cole.
N. Muchael and Z. George (2007), Modern Organic
Synthesis An Introduction, 1st ed. W.H. Freeeman.
Experiment #6 Isolation of Caffeine from Tea Leaves.
Retrieved from:
http://employees.oneonta.edu/knauerbr/chem226/226exp
ts/226_expt06_pro.pdf