Investigation of a liquid–liquid extraction system based on non-ionic surfactant–salt–H2O and mechanism of drug extraction Original Research Article

Based on the investigation of a non-ionic surfactant–salt–H2O liquid–liquid extraction system, general rules concerning salt selection are concluded and the mechanism of phase separation is explained. The extraction behavior of chlorpromazine hydrochloride (CPZ) and procaine hydrochloride (PCN) in such a system is studied. Research shows that the extraction efficiency of CPZ can amount to 96% by twice extraction, which means that quantitative extraction is realized, while that of PCN is 77%. This system produces distribution coefficients (KD) of 12.3 and 2.6, respectively, for CPZ and PCN. Extraction mechanism is deduced according to ultraviolet absorbance; and molecular fluorescence spectra change of the drugs in the system studied.