In: Chemistry
We used dichloromethane to perform a liquid-liquid extraction to pull Eugenol out of our water distillate. Briefly describe how a liquid-liquid extraction works.
Liquid–liquid extraction is also known as solvent extraction, which is a technique to separate compounds based on their relative solubilities in two different immiscible liquids. Commonly water and an organic solvent (ethylacetate, CHCl3, CH2CL2, diethylether and so on).
In this process a substance is extracted from one liquid into another liquid phase. Liquid–liquid extraction is a basic technique in chemical laboratories, where it is performed using a apparatus known as separatory funnels to counter current distribution equipment. This process is employed in laboratory after the reaction is over and is known as workup.
Liquid-liquid extraction depends on the distribution coefficient or distribution ratio. Distribution ratio is often quoted as a measure of how well-extracted a species is. The distribution ratio (KD) is equal to the concentration of a solute in the extracting solvent (organic phase) divided by its concentration in the (solvent containing the compound) aqueous phase.