1

Extraction Methods

Extraction:
Extraction is the process of separation of medicinally active substances of plant or
animal from a mixture by a mechanical or chemical action such as by distillation
or pressure.
This separation is done with the help of dissolving one or more of the
substances in a solvent in which it is easily soluble and are separated on the basis
of their physical or chemical properties.

Maceration :
It is a process in which the properly comminuted drug is permitted to soak in
menstruum until the cellular structure is softened and penetrated by the
menstruum and the soluble constituents are dissolved.
*The method is suitable for both initial and bulk extraction.
*The main disadvantage of maceration is that the process can be quite time-
consuming, taking from a few hours up to several weeks.

Percolation :
the powdered plant material is soaked initially in a solvent in a percolator .
Additional solvent is then poured on top of the plant material and allowed to
percolate slowly (dropwise) out of the bottom of the percolator. Additional
filtration of the extract is not required because there is a filter at the outlet of the
percolator. -Percolation is adequate for both initial and large-scale extraction.
The main disadvantages are : 1-fine powders and materials suchas resins and
plants that swell excessively (e.g., those containing mucilages) can clog the
percolator. 2-if the material is not distributed homogenously in the container, the
solvent may not reach all areas and the extraction will be incomplete.
2

Soxhlet extraction :
This method is adequate for both initial and bulk extraction . The plant powder is
placed in a cellulose thimble in an extraction chamber, which is placed on top of a
collecting flask beneath a reflux condenser. A suitable solvent is added to the
flask, and the set up is heated under reflux. When a certain level of condensed
solvent has accumulated in the thimble, it is siphoned into the flask beneath.
-The main advantage of Soxhlet extraction is that it is a continuous.

Steam Distillation:
Steam distillation is a separation process used to purify or isolate temperature
sensitive materials, like natural aromatic compounds. Steam or water is added to
the distillation apparatus, lowering the boiling points of the compounds. The goal
is to heat and separate the components at temperatures below their
decomposition point.
*Advantages: Low cost, simple.
Disadvantages: Time consuming, high temperatures used may alter compounds.

Liquid-Liquid Extraction:
In liquid-liquid extraction, a soluble component (the solute) moves from one
liquid phase to another. The two liquid phases must be either immiscible, or
partially miscible.
usually isothermal and isobaric.
can be done at low temperature (good for thermally fragile
solutes, such as large organic molecules or biomolecules).
can be very difficult to achieve good contact between poorly
miscible liquids (low stage efficiency).
extracting solvent is usually recycled, often by distillation
(expensive and energy-intensive).
can be single stage (mixer-settler) or multistage (cascade).
3




Decoction :
Decoction is a process of extracting oils and other compounds from plant
material. The material is first crushed or otherwise broken down, then added
to water and boiled. After boiling, any remaining material is filtered out, leaving
the desired compounds in the water.
Decoctation also refers to the remaining liquid from this process.


Sublimation Extraction
is a process used to isolate a -natural product from other undesired compounds,
and then purify it by a direct phase change of that product from a solid to a vapor.
Most substances, under normal conditions of atmospheric pressure, will change
phases with an increase in temperature from a solid, to a liquid, to a gas, while
other compounds, such as iodine and carbon dioxide, will undergo sublimation at
this pressure. By lowering the temperature and pressure of a system.
Sublimation is a process which must be completed in a very specific order. In
addition to its three main steps of the set up, sublimation, and retrieval, many
small factors may determine how much product has been obtained, and how well
it has been purified.