Question

What do the emulsions that form in caffeine extraction contain and how do they cause the caffeine recovery % to be low

Answer 1

Caffine extraction is one type of liquid liquid extraction. Emulsion is formed when two solvents do not cleanly separates. A foamy layer is formed in between these two.

Now it is formed because It is finely dispersed suspension from one into another. And it happens when dissolved materials increases the solubility of the extraction.

During caffine extraction we need to add another solvent that is dichloromethane that makes this emulsions.

Basically to extract the organic part means caffine from aqueous phase we have to use an organic solvent. So sometimes if solubility of caffeine is not good in this organic solvent that choosen for extraction then the % of caffeine recovery will be low.

And due to formation of emulsion also recovery decreases.