Which solvent is the best choice?

[Cyrus the great]

Homework Statement

I want to extract and quantify lipids inside the starch. Which solvents you recommend for the extraction?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Bystander]

Let's turn this into a learning experience --- "like dissolves like," can be translated to what?

 

[Cyrus the great]

Hi,

I didnt understand what do you mean? Starch is not soluble neither in water nor in ethanol but lipids are soluble in organinc solvent such as chloroform. But the problem is starch would be precipitated under all the solvents (it would be water phase,organic phase and the. Precipated starch)? Is my theory correct? If we use separation funnel then starch would block the passage of the funnel?

 

[Bystander]

Starch is not soluble neither in water nor in ethanol but lipids are soluble in organinc solvent such as chloroform. But the problem is starch would be precipitated under all the solvents

Sounds like you've got your answer --- starch is insoluble.

 

[Cyrus the great]

So, what is the solution? Do you have any idea?

 

[Ygggdrasil]

Sep funnels are great for liquid-liquid extractions, but they're not the only tool. If you want to separate your organic solvent + dissolved lipids from the starch, what methods do you know of that might work to separate a liquid from a solid?

 

[Cyrus the great]

Solid phase seperation?

 

[Ygggdrasil]

You can try filtering out the solid or centrifuging.