Chlorophylls. V. Isolation of Chlorophylls a and b Using an Improved Two-phase Extraction Method Followed by a Precipitation and a Separation on a Sucrose Column.

Abstract

Chlorophylls a and b, each of a high degree of purity, were isolated by a method consisting of an improved 2-​phase extn. method followed by a pptn. of the chlorophylls as aggregates and sepn. of the pptd. chlorophylls on a sucrose column. The spectroscopic properties of the chlorophylls purified by this means closely matched those previously described for pure chlorophylls. Fifty g of frozen clover leaves yielded approx. 20 mg of chlorophyll a and 3 mg of chlorophyll b. The advantage of the method is that the transformation of the chlorophylls into various alteration products can be minimized. The 2-​phase extn. method followed by pptn. also permits the prepn. of large amts. of pure chlorophyll mixt., from which mixts. of pheophytins or pheophorbides a and b are easily obtained by conventional methods.