Automated process for solvent separation of organic/inorganic substance

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is the general object of the invention to provide an automated process and apparatus for the solvent separation of organic/inorganic substances that operates continuously and unattended and eliminates potential errors resulting from subjectivity and the aging of the sample during analysis.
Briefly stated, the process and apparatus of the invention comprise a procedure wherein a weighed amount of organic/inorganic material is delivered into a filter and metered amounts of a series of solvents or solvent mixtures are passed sequentially through the filter under the direction and control of a micro-processor.
For purposes of this invention, the term "solvent mixture" means one or more solvents (e.
g.
, three or more virgin solvents) or a mixture of a single solvent with the same or different solute/solvent concentration.
The mixture in the filter is agitated by means of ultrasonic cavitation for a timed period and the filtrate is collected.
The completion of the extraction by each solvent is determined by a spectrophotometric response whereupon the next solvent in the series is metered into the filter.
The filtrates of each solvent extraction are collected individually and the residue from the filter element is collected to complete the extraction process.
In the automated process of the invention the extraction endpoint is determined objectively at room temperature under inert gas conditions and all the sequential steps are controlled by means of a microprocessor which selects the next step and number of times each step is repeated to attain an endpoint.
The endpoint is reached when the response reaches a pre-set value on the spectrophotometer.
The automated process and apparatus of the invention solves the problem of subjectivity in solvent extraction to determine endpoints.
Moreover, it performs the unattended, complete extraction of coal liquids at room (ambient) temperatures under an inert atmosphere.
This unique approach also solves the problem of sample aging and operator dependent results