Question
Can toluene and xylene be used for the extraction of the yellow water obtained from boiling ephedra?
Answer
Xylene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon compound, colorless and transparent, and is a mixture of three isomers: ortho, meta, and para. It has a distinctive odor, is flammable, and can be mixed with ethanol, chloroform, or ether but is not soluble in water. The boiling range of xylene is 137～140°C. In the extraction of ephedra water extracts, both toluene and xylene can be used simultaneously; however, attention should be paid to the separation and handling of the isomers to ensure the extraction effect and purity of the product.