Partitioning of Cefazolin in Biocompatible Aqueous Biphasic Systems Based on Surfactant

In this research, promising aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) containing polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) as a quite biocompatible nonionic surfactant and different salts (K 2 HPO 4, MgSO 4, and Na 3 Citrate) were prepared and their extractive potential was evaluated. These ATPS possess top and bottom phases well-stocked in surfactant and salt respectively which can offer appealing characteristics such as low interfacial tension, low volatility, and ease of scaling-up. Ternary phase diagrams of ATPS consisting of Tween 20 and three different salts were obtained and the results were successfully fitted to the Merchuk correlation. The salting-out ability of salts were assessed. Also, the tie-line data were correlated with the Othmer-Tobias equation. Afterward, the partitioning behavior of cefazolin as a broad-spectrum antibiotic in the proposed ATPS was studied at three temperatures (298.15, 302.15, and 306.15 K) and the influences of Na 3 Citrate and MgSO 4 on partition coefficients were justified by Hofmeister series. Furthermore, the effect of tie-line length on partitioning of cefazolin in ATPS was investigated. The experimental data of cefazolin partition coefficients indicated the proper potential of the Tween 20–Na 3 Citrate–water biphasic system for the bioseparation process.