Solvent extraction
Dr. Salih KARASU
Solvent extraction
Solvent extraction is the separation of a soluble
compound, the solute, by diffusion from a
solid (e.g. plant material) or liquid (e.g. oil)
matrix using a volatile solvent
Solvent extraction
Extraction process involves two stages:
(1) an initiation stage
(2) a diffusion stage.
Solvent extraction
In the initiation stage, solid fragments swell as
they absorb solvent and the soluble
components are dissolved. Then, diffusion
occurs within the. fragments outward
Solution Extraction – Diffusion Extraction
Diffusion
The holding time must be sufficient for solutes
to dissolve in the solvent.
Solvent extraction can be performed in batch,
semi-batch or continuous mode. A continuous
solvent extraction process is presented in
following Figure
The solvent is then passed into a vessel (i.e.
separator) in which the solvent and the
extracted compounds are separated, generally
by evaporation and finally vacuum distillation.
The solvent vapor is then sent to a condenser to
be recycled and crude oil is submitted to a
refining process (i.e. degumming, alkali
refining, bleaching, and deodorization)
The efficiency of solvent extraction strongly dependson ,
the solid material condition, the diffusion rate in the
solid,
the liquid-to-solid ratio,
the temperature,
the solvent selection (i.e. type, viscosity, and flow rate),
the solid’s water content,
and the presence of competing extractable components
Pre-extraction process
A pretreatment step like grinding or flaking,
prior to extraction, enhances surface contact
between the solvent and the solid matrix and
thus extraction efficacy
Also, a higher liquid-to-solid ratio provides an
increased gradient which facilitates the
solute’s diffusion.
High temperatures increase the solute’s
solubility and diffusion rate and result in a
higher mass transfer rate. Residual water in
solid material can negatively affect the
solvent’s capacity to dissolve solutes and thus,
affect the mass transfer.
However, the major factor influencing the
efficiency of solvent extraction is the nature of
the solvent used.
For this reason, most extraction techniques
manipulate the physical properties of solvents
in order to reduce the surface tension,
increase the solute’s solubility, and promote a
higher diffusion rate
Solvents range from polar, meaning miscible with
water (e.g. ethanol, methanol), to non-polar, which
means completely immiscible with water (e.g.
hexane).
Thus, polar compounds are more soluble in polar
solvents whereas non-polar compounds are more
readily dissolved in non-polar ones.
Selection of the solvent is therefore based on the
chemistry of the compound of interest as well as
on cost and toxicity
Solvent type
For example, water is used to extract sugar,
coffee and tea solutes, but oil and fat
extractions require a less polar solvent,
generally hexane.
Extraction stages
Another important factor influencing the extraction
quality is the number of extraction steps or stages.
Indeed, efficiency of the extraction increases along with
their numbers.
Although single stages have low operating costs, this
type of extractor produces diluted solutions involving
the use of expensive solvent recovery systems.
They are rarely used commercially and are restrained to
the extraction of specialty oils or to the production of
coffee and tea extracts.
Multistages
• Multistage apparatus can be viewed as single-
stage extractors linked together, allowing the
solvent emerging from an extractor’s bases to
be pumped cross-currently or counter-
currently to the next one. Multistage
apparatus offers significant advantages such as
higher recovery and purity
Counter current
• In the cross-current mode the feed, and
thereafter the raffinate or residue, are treated
in successive stages with fresh solvent.
• Though operation in cross-current mode offers
more flexibility, it is not very desirable due to
the high solvent requirements and low
extraction yields For larger volume operations
and more efficient uses of solvent, a counter-
current mode is employed
Single Stage Leaching
V1, x1 overflow V2, x2
Equilibrium
L0, N0, y0, B L1, N1, y1, B
underflow
Multiple Stage Leaching
overflow
V1, x1 Vn+1, xn+1
L0, N0, y0, B Ln, Nn,
yn , B
underflow
Counter current
In counter-current operation, the feed enters
the first stage as the final extract leaves. The
last stage receive the fresh solvent as the final
raffinate leaves.
The counter-current operation provides a higher
driving force for solute’s mass transfer and
thus, gives an optimal performance and is the
preferred set-up
Despite its widespread use in food processing,
solvent extraction has considerable drawbacks
related to solvent costs, toxicity and reactivity.
Also, potential environmental problems are
associated with their use, storage, and disposal.
For these latter reasons, modern environmentally
safe and cost-effective extraction techniques
are emerging.
Amongst these, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE),
pressurized liquid extraction, pressurized hot water
extraction (i.e. subcritical water extraction (SWE)),
microwave assisted extraction, and membrane-assisted
solvent have been proposed .
Even if water is the most environmentally friendly solvent
possible, extraction methods using water (e.g. SWE) still
give lower yields, require high energy for water removal,
and generate large amounts of effluents.
Extractor types in edible technology
Two different methods can be used to bring the
solvent to intimate contact with the oilseed
material:
• percolation
• immersion
immersion
Percolation
Percolation
