Advantages of LLE

-Not all of the fermented and biologically formed components are usable, so they must be
extracted while keeping the rest of the useful solution intact. Liquid-liquid extraction is used to
lower the required energy levels for these type of separation.
-Separation of small content of high boiling impurities mostly in aqueous solutions.
-When other separation method fail or energy cost, this is a ideal method to use.
- Very large capacities are possible with minimum energy consumption. Eg separation of paraffin
and aromatic in oil industry.

Disadvantages

Multiplication of extraction steps to obtain optimum output

Use of large volumes of organic solvents, whose the costs of recycling are becoming
increasingly more expensive
Emulsions difficulties which hinders the full recovery of the extract
The traces of eluent in the raffinate which requires additional processing of the sample
before the evaporation step
Large solvent consumption solvent consumption
Time/Labor intensive

May require an evaporation step prior to analysis to remove excessive

solvent.