The Extraction Efficiency Calculator helps you determine how effectively a substance is extracted from one phase into another during chemical separation processes. This calculation is essential in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, environmental science, and analytical chemistry.
By knowing how much of the desired substance was successfully extracted compared to the original amount, professionals can optimize extraction procedures, minimize waste, and improve overall process yields. Whether you’re working in a lab setting or handling industrial-scale extraction, this calculator simplifies one of the most fundamental steps in chemical recovery.
Formula of Extraction Efficiency Calculator
Extraction Efficiency (%) = (Amount Extracted / Initial Amount) × 100
Where:
- Amount Extracted is the mass, moles, or volume of the substance recovered in the extract phase
- Initial Amount is the total quantity of the target substance originally present
- Extraction Efficiency is the resulting percentage showing the effectiveness of the extraction
Alternate Formula using concentration and volume:
Extraction Efficiency (%) = [(C₁ × V₁) / (C₀ × V₀)] × 100
Where:
- C₀ is the initial concentration in the original phase
- V₀ is the volume of the original phase
- C₁ is the concentration in the extracting phase after the procedure
- V₁ is the volume of the extracting phase
This version is helpful when using solutions or working with aqueous-organic separations in lab extractions.
Common Reference Table
| Scenario | Initial Amount | Amount Extracted | Efficiency (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal single-step extraction | 100 mg | 95 mg | 95% |
| Partial extraction in water-organic mix | 50 mg | 30 mg | 60% |
| Poor solvent choice | 120 mg | 20 mg | 16.67% |
| Repeat extraction steps | 200 mg total | 180 mg (3 steps) | 90% |
This table offers fast reference for understanding how changes in process conditions affect efficiency.
Example of Extraction Efficiency Calculator
Let’s say you are extracting caffeine from a tea sample.
Initial caffeine content (C₀ × V₀) = 200 mg in 100 mL
After extraction, the extracting solvent contains (C₁ × V₁) = 150 mg in 80 mL
Using the direct extraction efficiency formula:
Extraction Efficiency = (150 / 200) × 100 = 75%
This result means that 75% of the caffeine was successfully extracted from the original solution, which is considered a reasonably good extraction efficiency in a single step.
Most Common FAQs
This tool is part of the chemical process and laboratory calculations category, commonly used in physical chemistry and process engineering.
No, it cannot. If your result is over 100%, it likely means there is a measurement or calculation error, such as contamination or overestimation of the extracted amount.
It helps optimize resource usage, reduce waste, and improve the purity and yield of the final product, especially in pharmaceutical, environmental, and industrial applications.