Magnetic particle-assisted solid–liquid separation: a rapid and centrifugation-free strategy for the analysis of plant-derived powders and viscous extracts
摘要
Plant-derived powders and viscous extracts used in spices, herbal medicines, and foods typically require organic solvent extraction prior to chromatographic analysis, while centrifugation increases operational complexity. Herein, a magnetic particle-assisted solid–liquid separation (MPAS) strategy based on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles is proposed for rapid, centrifugation-free pretreatment of plant samples. Efficient clarification was achieved using ~50 nm Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles at sample-to-particle mass ratios of 1:15 for powdered samples and 1:5 for viscous extracts, combined with 10 min ultrasonication. The resulting extract compositions were highly consistent with those obtained by conventional centrifugation in both GC–MS and LC–MS analyses, confirming the analytical reliability of MPAS. The method was further applied to monitor drying and heat-treatment processes of herbal medicines and spice powders, enabling dynamic profiling of active constituents and flavor compounds. Overall, MPAS offers a simple and effective centrifugation-free solution for the analysis and quality control of complex plant-derived products.