Electrocoagulation of Quinone Pigments.docVIP

Molecules 2006, 11, 514-522 molecules ISSN 1420-3049 Full Paper Electrocoagulation of Quinone Pigments Neeranuch Chairungsi 1, Kanlaya Jumpatong 1, Patiwat Suebsakwong 2, Waya Sengpracha 3, Weerachai Phutdhawong 2,* and Duang Buddhasukh 1,* 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand 2 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, 50292, Thailand 3 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, 73000, Thailand * Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; emails: weerachai@mju.ac.th; duang@chiangmai.ac.th Received: 12 June 2006; in revised form: 9 July 2006 / Accepted: 12 July 2006 / Published: 14 July 2006 Abstract: Some representative quinones, viz. one naphthoquinone (plumbagin) and five anthraquinones (alizarin, purpurin, chrysazin, emodin, and anthrarufin), were subjected to electrocoagulation. It was found that the rate and extent of coagulation of these compounds appears to correlate with the number and relative position of their phenolic substituent groups, and that all of the coagulated quinones could be recovered. Attempts were then made to electrochemically isolate three quinones, namely plumbagin, morindone and erythrolaccin, from natural sources. Keywords: Electrocoagulation, quinones, naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, phenolic compounds, alizarin, purpurin, chrysazin, emodin, anthrarufin, plumbagin, morindone, erythrolaccin, seedlac, Plumbago rosea, Morinda angustifolia Introduction Quinones, notably naphthoquinones and anthraquinones, are among the most widely distributed natural products. The majority of them exist as coloured phenolic compounds, useful as dyes and pigments. Isolation of these substances from their natural sources normally requires the use of organic  Molecules 2006, 11 515 solvents before the required compound c