Regarding food taken as the [first] tithe, which was primed for impurity by a liquid, if it was then touched by a <i>tevul yom</i> [one who has immersed that day in a <i>mikvah</i>, but who must wait until nightfall to become fully pure, and is of a second degree impurity until then] or by one with soiled [i.e. impure] hands, <i>terumat ma'aser</i> [a tenth of the tithe given to a Levi which must, in turn , be given to a <i>kohen</i> and which becomes holy upon separation, and can only be consumed by <i>kohanim</i> or their household] may be separated from it in purity, because it is of a third degree [level of impurity], and something of a third degree is pure with regard to <i>chullin</i> [produce or food that is not sanctified, and is permitted for general consumption].
Bartenura on Mishnah Tevul Yom
אוכל מעשר. מפרישין ממנו תרומת מעשר בטהרה – for a person who had immersed himself that day/Tevul Yom and hands are second degree of ritual uncleanness. And First Tithe (which goes to a Levite) is considered like unconsecrated produce, and second degree of ritual uncleanness does not make something third degree of ritual uncleanness with unconsecrated produce/food. Even though this tithe is immersed for the tithe of the tithe that is within it (which the Levite gives to the Kohen, regarding second and third degree of ritual uncleanness, the eatables forbidden pending the separation of sacred gifts is like unconsecrated produce/food, therefore, when we separate from it afterwards the tithe from the tithe it is pure.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Tevul Yom
If food that was tithe had been rendered susceptible to impurity by a liquid, and a tevul yom or one with unwashed hands touched it, terumah of tithe may still be removed from it in purity, since it only has third degree uncleanness, and third degree uncleanness counts as clean in hullin. A tevul yom or one who has unwashed hands touches tithe. Both of these people are considered as having second degree impurity. They will cause the food to have third degree impurity. However, third degree impurity counts as clean if the food is hullin non sacred. It only disqualifies terumah. Since tithe is considered hullin, the produce remains pure. Therefore, one may remove the terumah from this tithe, as is always done. In other words, although we will separate terumah from it in the future, right now it does not have the status of terumah. Hence it is not disqualified.
