Total Lipid Extraction of Food Using d-Limonene as an Alternative to n-Hexane

A useful and green method for the extraction of fats and oils with a new procedure combining Soxhlet extraction and Clevenger distillation using d-limonene (bio-solvent) as a substitute for n-hexane (petroleum solvent) is reported. This method using green solvent is a laboratory exercise which easily teaches fundamental green analytical chemical lessons and successfully incorporates green “analytical chemistry” into the teaching and the research laboratory to both developed and developing nations.