Question

Separation and identification of hydrocarbons from pterospermum acerifolium leaves

Answer 1

Pterospermum acerifolium (L) Willd (Family: Sterculiaceae) commonly known as 'Dinner plate tree' is a large deciduous tree widely distributed in North Canada and in many parts of India. The unsaponified petroleum ether extract of P. acerifolium. L. leaves has been analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and was shown to consist of the saturated n-alkane homologues series (C18-C30). Tetracosane (12.97%), hexacosane (12.59%), octadecane (7.92%), nonacosane (3.99%) are the major saturated hydrocarbons whereas pentadecene (3.59) and hexadecene (1.47%) are the unsaturated hydrocarbons present in leaf petroleum ether extract of P. acerifolium. The total amount of hydrocarbons found in the unsaponified petroleum ether extract was 62.29%.