PLE also known as accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and pressurised solvent extraction (PSE) uses both high pressure and temperature liquids to improve liquid solid extraction process.  High pressures and temperatures act to improve solvation promoting mass transfer through high sample penetration, increasing extraction efficiency.

The ESS implements dual fluid delivery system allowing both the induction of CO2, CO2 + solvent or just solvent into the 8 extraction vessels.

Preparing samples for analysis is key for ensuring results are both repeatable and reproducible.  Correct sample preparation also helps to improve sensitivity and prolongs column life by removing unwanted contaminants that may interfere with the analysis.  The ESS can be used with either CO2, CO2 and a modifier or just pure solvent to effectively prepare any solid sample ready for analysis.  Samples can be prepared in duplicate using the dual vessel arrangement.  Every 2 vessels are in one of the 4 heated zones ensuring each dual pair is heated to the same temperature.  This makes the ESS the ideal choice for sample preparation capable or operating under a wide variety of conditions.

Like PLE, Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2 is a technique to extract material from a solid matrix.  Higher pressures are required compared to PLE to effectively extract compounds from solids.  CO2 in its critical phase behaves like a non-polar, lipophilic solvent that has the benefit of being cheap, renewable and leaves the extracted residue solvent free once the CO2 returns to its gas state.

The ESS delivery system includes a high pressure CO2 pump capable of delivering pressures up to 600 bar @ 15g/min.