An eco-friendly efficient extractor

A microscale solid–liquid Pyrex extractor is described. The extractor has a novel detachable extraction vessel (H) containing a filter paper cylinder (C) over the reservoir. A filter paper cylinder (C) is firmly placed in the socket (E) with a plug (G) on which the cylinder has been placed. The sample is directly weighed in the extraction vessel (H) and the vessel is clamped (F) to the body (B). Contents in the extraction reservoir (H) are stirred (I) with a magnetic stirrer (J) and heated sufficiently (e.g. at 84.8 °C in using water) by the solvent vapor (D). Easy filtration (C) and continuous outflow (D) of the filtrates out of the reservoir (H) keeps a stable boiling condition (K), rather than batchwise conditions operative in a Soxhlet; this results in rapid and exhaustive extraction. The present extractor (8.0 mL extraction reservoir (H) capacity) equipped with a 25 mL solvent flask (K) was applied to fat extraction from powdered peanut by using 18 mL of ether. The extraction was complete in 30–60 min depending on reflux rate; in contrast, extraction with a commercial micro-Soxhlet device (23.9 mL extraction reservoir capacity) equipped with a 25 mL flask by using 34 mL of the solvent was incomplete in 120 min. Unlike filter paper thimbles used in Soxhlet devices, filter paper cylinder (C) in the new extractor could be reused many times and results in significant savings of the filter paper cylinders. Small reservoir and flask capacities of the new extractor minimize the use of organic solvents. The present apparatus permits fast and efficient extraction, sharply reduces waste, minimizes solvent consumption, and thus should find wide use aiming at the Green Solutions to Global Problems.