Mechanism of adsorption for panax notoginsenoside (PNS) and pigment was studied by comparing with the static adsorption capacity and the influence of eluting agent on removal of PNS and pigment among three kinds of commercial resins

such as macroporous adsorbents AB-8，gel ion-change resins 201×2 and macroporous ion-change resins D280

respectively.The result of pilot study revealed that adsorption of PNS was based on the hydrophobic interactions

and that of pigment was based on the synergistic effect of ion exchange effect and hydrophobic interactions.Hereby a series novel polymeric adsorbents with high specific surface area and high content of quaternary ammonium groups (e.g.—N＋(CH)3) were synthesized using Davankov postcrosslinked reaction.Then adsorbents were used to purify the panax notoginsenoside (PNS) in the extract of leaves.Adsorption—desorption properties of the quaternary ammonium polymeric adsorbents were investigated .It was showed that the adsorbent with 692 m2/g specific surface area and 2.1 mmol/g content of —N＋(CH)3 groups exhibited the best purification effect.The content of PNS increased from 36.2％ in crude extract of Sanqi leaves to 90.0％and E420 down to 0.008 . And the recovery of PNS was over 95%.Since the mechanism for adsorption of PNS and pigment was different

PNS and pigments can be eluted from the adsorbent using different eluting agent

respectively.Thus

the adsorptive purification procedure of PNS in the extract of leaves by using this adsorbent is much simpler as compared with conventional purification methods

the purify processes are combined in one step.Moreover

the stability and the regeneration of the quaternary ammonium polymeric adsorbents are evaluated.The results showned that pigments on the adsorption can be removed by elution with 80% aqueous ethanol solution containing 5% of sodium hydroxide

and the adsorbent should be regenerated to remove the pigments after it had been used for five circles.The purifying performance of the adsorbent was very stable after regeneration

and it can be used repeatedly.So

the quaternary ammonium polymeric adsorbent with high specific surface area can be used to purifying PNS in the extraction of leaves with high quality.