Anthocyanin Partition in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems Based on Isopropanol and Sodium/Ammonium Sulfate

Partitioning of anthocyanins contained in the crude extract of Syzygium cumini fruit was investigated in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) made up of isopropa nol and Na2SO4/(NH4)2SO4. Na2SO4 induced ATPS formation more effectively than (NH4)2SO4. The increase in temperature enhanced phase separation in the (NH4)2SO4 ATPS, while the opposite occurred in the Na2SO4 ATPS. The higher the overall mixture concentration or temperature, the higher the values of tie-line length and slope. In all systems and conditions, anthocyanins preferentially parti tioned to the top phase. The partition coefficient and theoretical recovery yield in the top phase varied in the ranges 1.14–1.77 and 53.31–63.87 % in the (NH4)2SO4 ATPS, and in the ranges 1.94–21.50 and 65.90–95.55 % in the Na2SO4 ATPS.