A novel and fast extraction technique as an alternative to conventional separatory funnels

Summary

A novel and generally applicable extraction technique is presented as an alternative to the common separatory funnel technique. It is based on the use of a commercially available magnetic stirring plate, which can stir up to six vessels simultaneously, and conventional conical flasks equipped with a specially designed (but easy to make) glass adaptor. The extraction process, which can proceed unattended, has been compared with conventional separatory funnel extraction methods using three different and well established methods: non-aqueous titration, molecular (visible) absorption and atomic absorption spectrometry. The results obtained by the new technique for each method have been compared with those obtained using the standard separatory funnel methods and were found to agree very satisfactory.