Separation of capsaicin from capsaicinoids by simulated moving bed chromatography.

Capsaicinoids were separated from capsicum oleoresin by solvent extraction and adsorption separation on macropore resin, and used directly as the feed of simulated moving bed. Using a mobile phase of methanol/water (75/25, v/v) and ODS columns, the two key components, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, were separated completely, while part of minor weak impurities were discarded by forcing them to leak into zone I. The amount of discarded impurities increases with decreasing flow rate in zone I so that the purity of capsaicin in raffinate stream could be improved.