Laboratory for the analysis and extraction of your samples by Soxhlet
Would you like to carry out a Soxhlet extraction on your samples?
What is the soxhlet method?
The Soxhlet method is an essential solid-liquid extraction technique in analytical chemistry and materials characterization.
It is a laboratory process used to recover substances present in a solid. It involves repeatedly circulating a solvent that evaporates and then condenses onto the sample, ensuring progressive and efficient extraction of the target compounds into the liquid.
At FILAB laboratory, we use the Soxhlet method as part of analysis and development services tailored to your industrial needs.
The Soxhlet method remains a benchmark in many industrial sectors for the analysis of solid organic compounds.
Whether for a purity study, an organic residue analysis, or sample preparation before chromatography, FILAB supports you at every stage, from protocol selection to result interpretation.
When should Soxhlet extraction be used?
Soxhlet extraction (soxhlet extraction) is used in many fields where it is necessary to isolate, purify, or quantify organic compounds present in solid matrices.
In the chemical industry and polymer sectors, the Soxhlet method is used to determine the content of plasticizers, solvents, additives, or formulation agents present in materials. It also makes it possible to assess extraction levels of oils, waxes, or organic residues in polymeric or composite matrices.
Filab supports you with your Soxhlet extraction analysis
Thanks to its expertise in polymer characterization and chemical analysis, FILAB offers tailor-made analytical services to identify, quantify, or extract substances from solid matrices.
Our laboratory relies on dual expertise in chemistry and materials characterization, ensuring reliable analysis adapted to your challenges.
Our soxhlet analysis services
FILAB carries out your sample analysis by Soxhlet as part of services tailored to your industrial, regulatory, or research needs.
Our services cover:
- The determination of organic content (fats, oils, waxes, residual solvents) in your solid samples.
- Thecontamination analysis or migration of organic compounds in polymers, packaging, or technical materials.
- The quality control and process validation to ensure the compliance of your finished products.
- Thefailure analysis related to the presence of unwanted organic compounds.
FILAB handles one-off analysis, recurring monitoring campaigns, or the development of tailor-made protocols.
Our technical resources to complement Soxhlet extraction
The FILAB laboratory has a complete analytical platform and a team of experts able to combine the Soxhlet method with other complementary techniques:
Gas chromatography (GC-MS) to identify and quantify the extracted compounds.
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to measure volatile and residual organic fractions
ICP spectroscopy to complement elemental characterization.
Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to characterize the chemical functions present.
Karl Fischer analysis to determine sample moisture content.
FILAB also prepares your samples by ASE extraction (Accelerated Solvent Extraction)
Learn moreWhy choose FILAB?
Choosing FILAB means benefiting from an experienced analytical partner, recognized for the quality of its services and its responsiveness.
With more than thirty years of experience in materials characterization and chemical analysis, the laboratory relies on validated methods that comply with international standards. Every support service is designed on a tailor-made basis, taking into account the industrial and regulatory constraints specific to each client.
Thanks to reliable, interpretable, and actionable results, FILAB helps you better understand your materials, control your processes, and ensure product compliance.
FAQ
Soxhlet extraction is a solid-liquid method used to isolate organic compounds from a solid sample. It relies on a continuous cycle of evaporation, condensation, and solvent percolation, ensuring exhaustive and reproducible extraction.
Developed by chemist Franz von Soxhlet in 1879, the Soxhlet method is a solid-liquid extraction process based on the repeated dissolution of a target compound by a hot solvent that is continuously recycled.
The principle is based on a reflux system: the heated solvent evaporates, condenses, passes through the solid sample, and returns to the boiling flask while carrying the substances of interest. After several cycles, a concentrated extract containing the desired organic compounds is obtained.
This method is particularly effective for extracting low-volatility compounds or compounds that are only sparingly soluble at room temperature. It remains a laboratory benchmark for exhaustive and selective extraction of organic substances.
A Soxhlet extraction takes place in several successive steps:
1- Sample preparation: drying, grinding, and homogenization to promote contact between the matrix and the solvent.
2- Solvent selection: chosen according to the solubility of the compound to be extracted (hexane, acetone, dichloromethane, ethanol, toluene, etc.).
3- Reflux extraction: the solvent is heated, evaporates, condenses in the extractor, and percolates through the sample. The cycle repeats several times, ensuring complete extraction of the target compounds.
4- Concentration of the extract: once extraction is complete, the solvent is evaporated to recover the dry residue containing the analytes.
This process ensures exhaustive, precise, and reproducible extraction of organic substances, without altering the compound, regardless of the nature and complexity of the matrix analyzed.
The method applies to many types of samples. It is particularly suitable for low-volatility or sparingly soluble compounds.
The solvent is chosen according to the solubility of the compound to be extracted. The most common are hexane, acetone, dichloromethane, ethanol, and toluene. FILAB always selects the most suitable solvent for your matrix and your analytical objectives.
This method guarantees complete, standardized, and reproducible extraction. It makes it possible to prepare samples for further analysis (GC-MS, HPLC, FTIR…) and remains the benchmark for quantifying organic compounds in solids.
FILAB provides comprehensive support, from defining the protocol to interpreting the results. Thanks to multidisciplinary expertise, modern equipment, and proven responsiveness, we guarantee reliable and actionable results.
