12/17/2025
Still using solvents for extraction?
For many operations, solvents don’t just extract compounds — they add extra work. Residue testing, compliance paperwork, safety handling, and long processing times all slow things down.
Water sounds like the obvious alternative, but at room temperature it’s too polar to be effective. Under heat and pressure, that changes. In subcritical conditions, water behaves differently, allowing selectivity to be controlled through temperature instead of solvent choice.
When it’s the right fit, subcritical water extraction can reduce solvent-related compliance, shorten extraction times, and even allow wet biomass to be processed without drying.
It’s not a solution for every material, and pilot testing is essential. But if solvent management is creating bottlenecks in your process, it may be worth looking at a different approach.
Learn more about the eH₂O Subcritical Water Extractor and how it’s used in research and pilot-scale applications.