What is Botanical Extraction?
Botanical extraction is the process of isolating compounds of interest from botanicals, or plants. These compounds can then be utilized in any number of products, ranging from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics. Solvents are often employed during this process to aid in the separation of the compounds of interest from the rest of the plant. The solvent can then be boiled off, leaving the desired botanical extract behind. This blog post will examine several of the best solvents for botanical extraction.
The Best Solvents for Botanical Extraction
- Acetone
Acetone is one of the best solvents for botanical extraction for several reasons. First, acetone has a low boiling point of approximately 132.8ºF. Due to this feature, the step of boiling off excess acetone occurs rapidly, ultimately making the extraction process more time-efficient. Second, acetone is cheaper than many other solvents, such as butane. Finally, acetone is non-toxic, making it a safe solvent choice for those interested in creating food-grade products.
- Butanol
Butanol is another great solvent option for botanical extraction. Compared to ethanol, another common solvent, butanol has fairly low water solubility. This decreases the number of drying steps required during the extraction process, making it faster overall. Butanol is also less volatile than the popular solvent hexane, which means it is safer to use at higher temperatures. These are just a couple of the features that make butanol one of the best solvents for botanical extraction.
- Methanol
Finally, methanol is another of the best solvents for botanical extraction. A 2019 study compared the abilities of several solvents, such as methanol, ethanol, and distilled water, in the extraction of Severinia buxifolia. Methanol was identified as the best solvent for the extraction, as it resulted in the greatest extraction yield and the highest levels of phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids. Methanol also has a lower boiling point than ethanol, a similar solvent (ethanol is just methanol with one additional carbon atom and two additional hydrogen atoms). This means its evaporation process is faster than that for ethanol. Thanks to these characteristics, methanol is one of the most effective and overall best solvents for botanical extraction.
Where to Buy the Best Solvents for Botanical Extraction
Are you interested in purchasing some of the best solvents for botanical extraction? Look no further than Extraction Grade Solvents! We offer all three of the solvents discussed above. If you have any inquiries or would like to learn more about the best solvents for botanical extraction, please contact us today here or at info@extractiongradesolvents.com.