L-theanine extraction with supercritical CO2

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simondex@yahoo.com - 10 Dec 2004 03:47 GMT

Hi, Everyone!

Green tea is decaffeinated by supercritical CO2. L-theanine is one of
the most important components of green tea that acts antagonistically
to caffeine. It is a non-protein amino acid. Does anyone know if the
supercritical CO2 removes L-theanine with caffeine?

Thank You.

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MMu - 13 Dec 2004 16:29 GMT

Looking at both molecules i would say it does.
The polarities of caffeine and L-theaine look similar and the difference in
molecular weight is not that big either- I think they would have similar
vapor pressures and solubility properties and thus be both extracted with
CO2 in one process.
Its just a guess though.

> Hi, Everyone!
>
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>
> Thank You.

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Darryl - 14 Dec 2004 23:44 GMT

I think that based on the structures, the mere fact that L-theanine is
an amino *acid* would exclude it from SFE.

>Looking at both molecules i would say it does.
>The polarities of caffeine and L-theaine look similar and the difference in
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>>
>> Thank You.

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