Processing method that uses hexane, carbon dioxide, then ethyl alcohol?

• A. solvent extraction
• B. distillation
• C. cold pressing
• D. aerosolization

Answer: (A)

This is solvent extraction. Using solvents to pull target compounds from a solid material is the hallmark of this method, and the sequence makes sense for maximizing yield and purity. Hexane is nonpolar and excels at dissolving oils and fats. Carbon dioxide can act as a versatile solvent, especially in its supercritical form, extracting a broader range of constituents and being relatively easy to remove afterward. Finishing with ethyl alcohol introduces a polar solvent that can dissolve more polar compounds and help remove residual solvents or impurities, further refining the extract. This stepwise, multi-solvent approach is characteristic of solvent-based extraction, unlike distillation (separation by boiling points), cold pressing (mechanical extraction without solvents), or aerosolization (generating aerosols rather than extracting).