solventextracted

Solventextracted, or solvent-extracted, refers to materials produced or processed by extracting target compounds from a solid or liquid matrix using a liquid solvent. The technique, commonly called solvent extraction or liquid–liquid extraction, relies on transferring solutes into a immiscible solvent that preferentially dissolves them. After mixing, the phases separate and the solvent containing the dissolved solutes is collected as the extract, while the remaining solid or aqueous phase is recovered.

The method is widely used across industries. In food and agriculture, it is employed to obtain edible oils and fats from seeds (for example hexane-extracted soybean oil) and to isolate flavor compounds such as essential oils and terpenoids. In pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, solvent extraction helps purify natural products and separate components with differing solubilities. In metallurgy and environmental remediation, it is used to recover metals or to remove contaminants from liquids and solids.

Solvent-extracted materials can refer to the extract itself or to the residue left after extraction. Process design depends on solute polarity, solvent compatibility, and stability of the compounds involved. Industrial implementations may use batch equipment, mixer–settlers, or continuous extractors; methods such as Soxhlet extraction are common for lab-scale or prolonged extraction.

Common solvents include hexane for oils, ethanol or acetone for polar organics, and dichloromethane for certain nonpolar organics, with supercritical CO2 increasingly used as a low-toxicity alternative. Advantages of solvent extraction include high efficiency and the ability to operate at ambient or mild temperatures, which helps preserve sensitive compounds. Disadvantages include solvent residues, safety concerns, environmental impact, and the need for solvent recovery and waste management.