What are the advantages of Soxhlet extraction and general soaking extraction?
As a method of liquid-solid extraction, soxhlet extraction is most suitable for extracting and separating solid samples.
The instruction of extraction thimble using in Soxhlet extraction is as follows: wrap the sample to be tested in a degreased filter paper bag, place the bag in an extraction tube, an organic solvent is added to the extraction tube, heat the tube and the solvent is vaporized. The condenser gas rises into the condenser, and the liquid is dripped into the extraction tube to extract the organic substance in the sample. When the liquid level of the solvent in the extraction tube reaches a certain height, the solvent in which the organic substance is dissolved flows into the extraction bottle through the siphon. The solvent which flows into the extraction bottle is continuously heated, vaporized, raised, condensed, and dropped into the extraction tube, so that the extraction is repeated several times until the extraction is completed.
Compared to Soxhlet extraction, the general soaking extraction is to be easier but less efficient. The latter extraction method is to infiltrate the solid for a long time with a solvent to leach the desired substance, and to pour out the soaking liquid, which completes one extraction. If the extraction is repeated, the operation is repeated. The traditional extracting method acquires a large amount of solvent, and it’s time-consuming and inefficient.
The advantage of Soxhlet extraction is that it can be extracted multiple times. Compared with the general soaking method, it has the advantages of small solvent dosage, high efficiency and complete extraction.