Solvent extraction. In developing the extraction
procedure, steps were taken to select the
most desirable extractant on the basis of its
ability to remove the flavor fraction from the
chocolate materials. Five extractants, varying
in polarity, were studied: petroleum ether,
ethyl ether, acetone, ethanol, and methanol.
Ethanol and methanol were found to be equally
efficient in renmving the flavor fractions from
the chocolates. However, methanol was selected
as the extractant for further work, because of
its efficiency in removing the flavor from the
chocolate and the ease with which it could be
removed from the samples.