Wondering Which Solvent to Use for Extraction?

Are you interested in extracting plant materials? Perhaps you are looking to isolate edible oils from plants or create your own CBD products. Whatever the case may be, you might be wondering what kind of solvent you should use for extraction. This blog post will go over several criteria that will make your choice of solvent for extraction simple and straightforward. If you want to learn how to make the perfect choice of solvent for extraction, read on!

How to Select a Solvent

• Selectivity

One of the most important factors to consider before making a choice of solvent for extraction is the selectivity of the solvent- that is, the ability of the solvent to selectively extract the desired compounds and leave the unneeded compounds behind. For instance, polar solvents will dissolve polar compounds, so if the compound you want is polar, your choice of solvent for extraction should be polar. The same rule applies for nonpolar compounds- your choice of solvent for extraction must be nonpolar. Some solvents, like acetone, can dissolve both polar and nonpolar compounds.

• Safety

Safety is another critical element going into your choice of solvent for extraction. Ideally, the solvent should be nontoxic and nonflammable, but unfortunately, this is difficult to come by. Some common solvents, such as diethyl ether, are nontoxic but flammable, whereas others, such as dichloromethane, are nonflammable but toxic. Some are even both toxic and flammable! Any potential solvents should be researched beforehand to determine their toxicity and flammability.

• Boiling Point

The boiling point of a solvent used for extraction should be as low as possible. This is pertinent when making a choice of solvent for extraction because a high boiling point means a higher risk of heat degradation. One common solvent, benzene, has a boiling point of 176.2ºF. Therefore, methanol, with a boiling point of 148.5ºF, and acetone, with a boiling point of 132.8ºF, would both be better options.

• Cost

Finally, cost should not be overlooked when making a choice of solvent for extraction. You should select the most effective solvent that is also as inexpensive as possible. Otherwise, if you are creating products to sell from your extractions, you may not make much profit, which will somewhat nullify your solvent’s other great benefits.

Where to Purchase Solvents

Hopefully, after reading this blog post, you can feel more confident in making a choice of solvent for extraction. But where should you purchase it? Extraction Grade Solvents have your back! We offer several solvents, such as acetone, methanol, and butanol, and our team is available to answer any questions. Please contact us today to learn more!