Solvent extraction apparatuses and methods

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for the solvent extraction of a substance from a material. The disclosed systems include multiple tanks and an extraction column in communication with the tanks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of extracting compounds from compound-bearing plant material, the method comprising:
 cooling, to at least 35 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, a solvent mixture that comprises at least butane and a co-solvent, said cooling step occurring before and/or after the butane and at least the co-solvent is mixed and/or while the butane and at least the co-solvent is mixed, thereby providing a cooled liquid solvent mixture;   transporting the cooled liquid solvent mixture from a first tank of an extraction system to an extraction column of the extraction system via a solvent line arranged between the first tank, which holds the cooled liquid solvent mixture, and the extraction column, which holds the compound-bearing plant material and is arranged downstream of the first tank;   soaking, for a predetermined period of time, the compound-bearing plant material in the cooled liquid solvent mixture, thereby producing a solvent-extracted compound mixture; and   transporting at least a portion of the solvent-extracted compound mixture from the extraction column to a collector of the extraction system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising mixing the butane and at least the co-solvent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  with the mixing step comprising mixing N-Butane and at least the co-solvent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  with the mixing step comprising mixing N-Butane and Isobutane. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  with the mixing step comprising mixing N-Butane and propane. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  with the mixing step comprising mixing Isobutane and propane. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  with the mixing step comprising mixing N-Butane, Isobutane, and propane. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  with the collector being a collection tank. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  with the transporting the cooled liquid solvent mixture step comprising fluidly coupling a pressure source to the first tank, the pressure source providing a pressurized gas for transporting the cooled liquid solvent mixture from the first tank to the extraction column. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  with the pressure source being a compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  with the cooling step comprising cooling, to below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the solvent mixture that comprises at least the butane and the co-solvent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  with the cooling step comprising transporting a cooling liquid from a reservoir to a jacket that is thermally coupled to the first tank. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  with the cooling step comprising circulating a cooling liquid from a reservoir to a jacket that is thermally coupled to the first tank. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  with the transporting the cooled liquid solvent mixture step comprising establishing a vacuum downstream of the first tank. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  with the transporting the cooled liquid solvent mixture step comprising establishing a vacuum in at least the extraction column. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  with the transporting the cooled liquid solvent mixture step comprising establishing a vacuum in at least the collector and the extraction column. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising separating at least a portion of solvent mixture from the solvent-extracted compound mixture, said separating step occurring before, during, and/or after the transporting the at least the portion of the solvent-extracted compound mixture step. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising separating at least about 90 percent of the solvent mixture in the solvent-extracted compound mixture before transporting the remaining solvent-extracted compound mixture to the collector. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising separating at least 95 percent of the solvent mixture in the solvent-extracted compound mixture before transporting the remaining solvent-extracted compound mixture to the collector. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising heating the collector for heating the solvent-extracted compound mixture to a temperature that will evaporate at least a portion of the solvent mixture from the solvent-extracted compound mixture. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising separating the solvent mixture from the solvent-extracted compound mixture by heating the solvent-extracted compound mixture, thereby providing the solvent mixture in a vapor phase, and condensing the vapor-phase solvent mixture in the first tank or a second tank of the extraction system. 
     
     
         22 . A method of extracting compounds from compound-bearing plant material, the method comprising:
 cooling a first tank that holds a solvent mixture, the solvent mixture comprises at least butane and a co-solvent, thereby producing a cooled liquid solvent mixture, the cooling step comprising providing a cooling liquid to a jacket that is thermally coupled to the first tank of an extraction system;   transporting the cooled liquid solvent mixture from the first tank to an extraction column of the extraction system via a solvent line arranged between the first tank, which holds the cooled liquid solvent mixture, and the extraction column, which holds the compound-bearing plant material and is arranged downstream of the first tank;   soaking, for a predetermined period of time, the compound-bearing plant material in the cooled liquid solvent mixture, thereby producing a solvent-extracted compound mixture; and   transporting at least a portion of the solvent-extracted compound mixture from the extraction column to a collector of the extraction system.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  with the cooling step comprising transporting the cooling liquid from a reservoir to the jacket. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  with the cooling step comprising circulating the cooling liquid from a reservoir to the jacket. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  with the cooling step comprising cooling the solvent mixture to at least 35 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  with the solvent mixture comprising at least N-Butane and Isobutane. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  with the solvent mixture comprising at least N-Butane, Isobutane, and propane. 
     
     
         28 . A method of extracting compounds from compound-bearing plant material, the method comprising:
 providing a solvent mixture that comprises at least one of propane, N-Butane, Isobutane, Heptane, Hexane, Pentane, Cyclohexane, Trichloroethylene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Di-Iso-Propyl Ether, Methyl-tert-Butyl Ether, Xylene, Benzene, Diethyl Ether, Dichloromethane, 1,2-Dichloroethane, Butyl Acetate, Iso-Propanol, n-Butanol, Tetrahydrofuran, n-Propanol, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate, 2-Butanone, Dioxane, Acetone, Methanol, Ethanol, Acetonitrile, Acetic Acid, Dimethylformamide, and Dimethyl Sulfoxide;   cooling, to at least 35 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, the solvent mixture, thereby providing a cooled liquid solvent mixture;   transporting the cooled liquid solvent mixture from a first tank of an extraction system to an extraction column of the extraction system via a solvent line arranged between the first tank, which holds the cooled liquid solvent mixture, and the extraction column, which holds the compound-bearing plant material and is arranged downstream of the first tank;   soaking, for a predetermined period of time, the compound-bearing plant material in the cooled liquid solvent mixture, thereby producing a solvent-extracted compound mixture; and   transporting at least a portion of the solvent-extracted compound mixture from the extraction column to a collector of the extraction system.