Preparation of aqueous two-phase systems composed of two pH-response polymers and liquid-liquid extraction of demeclocycline.

Aqueous two-phase systems have potential applications for separation and purification of bioproducts in bio-industry. However, a key problem is the recovery of the polymers forming aqueous two-phase systems. In this study, two novel random copolymers (P(ADB) and P(ADBA)) were synthesized using acrylic acid, dimethylamino-ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate and allyl alcohol as monomers and used to form pH response aqueous two-phase systems. The recoveries of P(ADB) and P(ADBA) are 97.18% and 98.87% and the pI of P(ADB) and P(ADBA) are 2.79 and 4.01, respectively. Demeclocycline was partitioned in the P(ADB)/P(ADBA) aqueous two-phase systems and the partition coefficient reached 0.085, in the presence of MgSO₄ (60 mmol/L) at pH 5.28.