Liquefied Dimethyl Ether: An Energy-Saving, Green Extraction Solvent

Abstract

Extraction is an essential procedure in the fields of food, pharmacy, and renewable bio-fuels, and it affords the recovery of desired components and the removal of undesired components from the natural feedstock. Conventional extraction techniques involving organic solvents and supercritical fluids have been extensively studied and used. Generally, these techniques are either economically or environmentally unfavourable because of the use of toxic solvents and considerable heating and pressurizing. Recently, a new extraction technique involving the use of liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) as a green solvent has attracted tremendous attention. This technique is economically efficient and environmentally friendly by virtue of the unique physical and chemical properties of DME. Additionally, the DME method can extract/remove the desired/undesired components as well as dewater (dry) the wet materials simultaneously. These advantages render the DME method practicable in several industrial fields. This chapter attempts to outline the potential of liquefied DME as an extraction solvent by elucidating the operating principles, procedures, and some recent studies and results.