Improvements relating to the recovery of new growth factors or vitamins from aqueoussolutions thereof

摘要

The invention comprises coprogens which are effective in supporting the growth of Pilobolus species, particularly P. Kleinii, and which contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and iron, said substances being soluble in hydroxylated solvents, and insoluble in acetone, ether, benzene, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, and their preparation from aqueous fermentation liquors thereof by extracting an aqueous fermentation liquor with a water-immiscible hydroxylated organic solvent, separating the solvent phase and reducing its volume. Preferably the fermentation liquors are treated with a salting out agent, e.g. ammonium sulphate or sodium chloride, and the fermentation liquor thereafter extracted with a water-immiscible hydroxylated solvent, e.g. n-butanol, iso-butanol, isoamyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol or phenol, to obtain a solvent phase which is chromatographed. The solvent phase from the column, e.g. n-butanol and ethyl acetate, is distilled azeotropically, while continuously adding water, until a substantially aqueous solution is achieved, the aqueous solution lyophilised, the solids dissolved in a small amount of ethanol and a crystalline product recovered therefrom. As the aqueous fermentation liquor containing coprogens there may be used Penicillium, Sarcina lutea, or Actinomyces fermentation liquor.