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Accelerated solvent extraction is faster and more efficient than traditional methods like sonication or Soxhlet extraction. ASE combines high temperature and high pressure to extract biomarkers from sediment samples in a single, relatively fast preparation run. This high-throughput capability enables researchers to process hundreds or thousands of samples needed for detailed paleoclimate reconstruction, which older extraction methods cannot achieve.

In accelerated solvent extraction, high temperature increases the kinetics of the extraction process, speeding up biomarker separation from sediment. High pressure simultaneously keeps the solvent from volatizing, or evaporating, during extraction. This combination of elevated temperature and pressure allows the ASE method to efficiently extract organic compounds while maintaining solvent integrity throughout the procedure.

Samples are loaded into steel cells with combusted glass fiber filters placed above and below the sediment material. A dispersant such as diatomaceous earth or sand is added to fill the cell and improve solvent contact. End caps seal the cell, and collection vials receive the extracted material. All glassware and filters are combusted to remove organic contaminants before use.

A total lipid extract is the organic material dissolved by the solvent and collected in the vial after accelerated solvent extraction. Kerogen is the non-extractable organic material that remains in the sample cell after extraction. The residue left behind comprises both non-organic material and kerogen, representing compounds that are not solvent-extractable.

Accelerated solvent extraction can extract organochlorine pesticides and other residues from food samples like fruits and vegetables. ASE determines the types and levels of pesticide contamination present, helping regulatory and industrial facilities verify whether produce is safe for human or animal consumption. For example, dieldrin levels must remain within 0 to 0.1 parts per million depending on the product.

Biomarkers like glycerol-dialkyl glycerol-tetraethers (GDGTs) are produced by archaea and bacteria and change predictably in response to air or water temperature. The distribution of these biomarkers in sediment sequences of known age allows scientists to reconstruct past temperature changes on decadal to millennial timescales. This paleoclimate data requires rapid analysis of hundreds or thousands of samples, making accelerated solvent extraction essential.

After accelerated solvent extraction, the total lipid extract containing biomarkers must be purified before analysis. The purification process removes unwanted compounds and concentrates the target biomarkers. Purification of a total lipid extract with column chromatography is a common next step in preparing samples for detailed chemical and paleoclimate analysis.