Ultrasonic Extraction System

What is the Ultrasonic Extraction System?

An ultrasonic extraction system uses cavitation from ultrasound to disrupt the sample matrix and speed extraction. It is simple, rapid and suits small to moderate sample numbers in food and environmental analysis.

Overview

An ultrasonic extraction system immerses sample and solvent in a bath or applies a probe, generating high-frequency pressure waves that create and collapse microscopic bubbles. The collapse disrupts the matrix, improves solvent penetration and increases mass transfer, so extraction proceeds more quickly and at lower temperature than static soaking. Bath systems handle several samples at once with gentle, uniform treatment, while probe systems deliver more energy to a single sample. Solvent, temperature, sonication time and power control the recovery, and extracts are filtered before analysis. The technique is simple and inexpensive and suits food, environmental and material samples.

How does it work?

Extraction transfers analytes from a solid or semi-solid matrix into a solvent that can be analyzed or further cleaned. Soxhlet extraction repeatedly cycles condensed solvent through the sample, giving thorough extraction over time. Accelerated solvent extraction uses elevated temperature and pressure to keep the solvent liquid and speed transfer. Supercritical fluid extraction uses carbon dioxide above its critical point, whose low viscosity and high diffusivity penetrate the matrix rapidly and leave little residue. Microwave extraction heats the solvent and sample together, while ultrasonic extraction uses cavitation to disrupt the matrix and improve mass transfer. Temperature, pressure, solvent choice and time determine recovery.

What are the key features?

• Ultrasonic bath for multiple samples
• Probe option for higher local energy
• Cavitation disrupts the sample matrix
• Lower operating temperature than reflux
• Simple and economical operation

What are the technical specifications?

A typical ultrasonic extraction system configuration offers frequency of 20–40 kHz, bath volume of 3–30 L, bath power of 100–600 W, probe power of 50–500 W, extraction time of 5–60 min and temperature range of Ambient to 80 °C. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Ultrasonic Extraction System is used in food contaminant and additive extraction, environmental soil and sludge extraction, plant and natural product extraction and polymer and textile additive extraction. Across the wider Extractors class, laboratories also deploy it for fat and oil determination in food, environmental organic pollutant extraction and pharmaceutical and natural product isolation.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include EPA 3540C, EPA 3545A, EPA 3546, ISO 659 and IEC 61010-1. Certification candidates for this model are CE and ISO 9001 manufacturing; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Handle solvents in a fume hood and use the protective equipment specified for the solvent and the extraction conditions. Dry and grind the sample consistently, because moisture and particle size affect penetration and recovery. Optimise and validate temperature, pressure, solvent and time for each matrix, and verify recovery with a certified reference material or a spiked sample. Clean and check seals, vessels and tubing, since leaks waste solvent and can be hazardous at high pressure. Recover or dispose of solvents according to regulations, and record all parameters for traceability.

How do I select the right Ultrasonic Extraction System?

Choose an ultrasonic extraction system for simple, rapid extraction of small to moderate sample numbers. Confirm the bath or probe volume suits the samples, and that temperature control and timing suit the method. For difficult matrices or volatile analytes, a pressurised or microwave system may give better recovery.

How does it compare with other Extractors variants?

Choose an extraction technique according to the analyte, the matrix and the required throughput. Soxhlet extraction is the classical reference method and suits fat and oil determination, but it is slow and uses more solvent. Accelerated solvent extraction is faster and uses less solvent, and suits many environmental and food methods. Supercritical fluid extraction is efficient and nearly solvent-free, and suits non-polar and moderately polar analytes. Microwave and ultrasonic extraction are rapid and suit samples where the matrix is easily penetrated. Confirm the achievable recovery, the solvent consumption, the temperature and pressure limits, and whether the system can handle the sample number required.