Extractor and related methods

An extractor suitable for using a solvent to separate a compound from a solid or semisolid substance containing the compound, comprising:

• a substance inlet for introducing the substance into the extractor;
• a substance outlet for removing the substance from the extractor;
• a solvent inlet for introducing the solvent into the extractor;
• a solvent outlet for removing the solvent from the extractor;
• and
• a first conveying assembly including:
• an inclined first conveyor for receiving the substance from the substance inlet and moving the substance through the solvent, the first conveyor including an upper end and a lower end opposite its upper end,
• wherein the inclined first conveyor includes an inclined first upper surface and
• an inclined first lower solid surface substantially parallel with the inclined first upper surface;
• wherein the first conveyor is configured to move the substance downward through the solvent along the first upper surface toward the lower end and upward through the solvent along the first lower solid surface toward the upper end,
• a second conveying assembly including:
• a second inclined conveyor positioned between the first conveyor and the substance outlet and substantially parallel to the first conveyor, the second conveyor including an upper end and a lower end opposite its upper end,
• wherein the second inclined conveyor includes an inclined second upper surface and
• an inclined second lower solid surface;
• wherein the second conveyor is configured to move the substance downward through the solvent along the second upper surface toward the second conveyor lower end and upward through the solvent along the second lower solid surface toward the second conveyor upper end;
• and
• an exit conveying assembly including:
• an exit conveyor positioned between the first conveyor and the substance outlet and substantially parallel to the first conveyor, the exit conveyor including an upper end and a lower end opposite its upper end,
• wherein the exit conveyor includes an inclined exit upper surface and
• an inclined exit lower surface substantially parallel to the inclined exit upper surface;
• wherein the exit conveyor is configured to move the substance downward through the solvent along the exit upper surface toward the exit conveyor lower end and upward through the solvent along the exit lower surface toward the exit conveyor upper end
• wherein the compound comprises rubber and the solid or semisolid substance comprises guayule biomass.