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J.V. DE GUZMAN
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES
DATE PERFORMED: FEBRUARY 4, 2015
INSTRUCTORS NAME: ALLAN KENNETH REGUNTON
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
1. What is the purpose of washing the organic layer with 6 M
NaOH?
Caffeine is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in coffee beans
and tea leaves. It contains basic nitrogen and exhibits properties of
organic amine bases. As such, sodium hydroxide which is a strong base
was used to wash the organic layer in order to make sure that caffeine
remains in the base form and prevents it from reacting or being
neutralize with organic acids also present in coffee. If acid-base
neutralization occurs, caffeine will not be isolated from the coffee or
tea.
2. Compare the solid products obtained after extraction and after
purification. Account for the difference between the two solids.
After extraction, the product obtained called crude caffeine is
brownish white in appearance implying the presence of impurities.
These impurities are usually organic compounds found in coffee or tea
such as chlorophyll. It also has a distinct grass-like smell. After the
crude product was sublimed, the purified caffeine becomes a whiter
crystalline solid showing that impurities are removed.
3. What are the other applications of solvent extraction?
Solvent extraction is a liquid-liquid extraction technique in which