Efficient Purification of Camptothecin via Aqueous Two-phase System Composed of 1,1,3,3-Tetramethylguanidinium Benzoate Ionic Liquid and K2CO3

After being hydrolyzed into corresponding hydrosoluble carboxylate by 1,1,3,3,-tetramethylguanidine (TMG), camptothecin was extracted via the aqueous two-phase systems composed of ionic liquid 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidinium(TMGM) carboxylate and K2CO3, and was regenerated at the final by dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid. Among the ionic liquids, TMGM benzoate showed the best effect, TMGM formate the worst, this results were consistent with the liposolubilities of different carboxylic acid components in the ionic liquids. Through two-step extraction of TMGM benzoate ionic liquid/K2CO3 aqueous two-phase under a favorable condition, camptothecin was obtained in a purity of 98.3% and a total yield of 85.1%, from the crude camptothecin extract with a purity of 14.2%.