Solvent Extraction

Solvent Extraction

Solvent extraction is usually used to recover a component from either a solid or liquid. The sample is contacted with a solvent that will dissolve the solutes of interest. Solvent extraction is of major commercial importance to the chemical and biochemical industries, as it is often the most efficient method of separation of valuable products from complex feedstocks or reaction products. Some extraction techniques in involve partition between two immiscible liquids, others involve either continuous extractions or batch extractions. Because of environmental concerns, many common liquid/liquid processes have been modified to either utilise benign solvents, or move to more frugal processes such as solid phase extraction. The solvent can be a vapour, supercritical fluid, or liquid, and the sample can be a gas, liquid or solid.