Solid-fluid-vortex extraction

Principles and Characteristics The principle of solid-fluid-vortex extraction, a recent development [152], is based on the creation of a relatively high filtration pressure as a result of cooling off a vapour chamber in a boiler vessel in such a way that there is (ideally) complete condensation and the extractive fluid is forced through a filter and/or extraction material at nearly one atmosphere in the case of open extractor systems and at more than one atmosphere in the case of closed extractor systems (cf. hydrostatic pressures up to 0.01 bar in Soxhlet). 

The intermittent solid-fluid-vortex extraction method [153] consists of four stages ... 

This cycle of vaporisation of the solvent, condensation, extraction, and vacuum-filtration may be repeated any number of times in a solid-fluid serial extractor. The occurrence of an extractive material fluid bed as a result of the flow of boiling hot vapour provides for effective extraction, while pressure filtration provides for short cycle times. This functional principle makes it possible to achieve filtration pressures which are 50-100 times more effective than when using the Soxhlet method, where only the low hydrostatic pressure of the extractive fluid operates. Solid-fluid-vortex extraction according to the proprietary FEXTRA (Feststoff Extraktion) principle is low cost. 

Advantages of intermittent extraction are similar to those of solid-fluid-vortex extraction. A disadvantage is caking of the polymer in the case of a high polymer concentration in the extract or by loss of extraction fluid. Interlaboratory comparison is restricted. 

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