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 after removal of the compound;
• 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;
• an inclined first upper surface associated with the first conveyor;
• and
• an inclined first lower surface associated with the first conveyor;
• 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 surface toward the upper end,
• wherein the compound comprises rubber and the solid or semisolid substance comprises plant matter.

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 after removal of the compound;
• 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;
• an inclined first upper surface associated with the first conveyor;
• and
• an inclined first lower surface associated with the first conveyor;
• 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 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;
• an inclined second upper surface associated with the second conveyor;
• and
• an inclined second lower surface associated with the second conveyor;
• 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 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;
• an inclined exit upper surface associated with the exit conveyor;
• and
• an inclined exit lower surface associated with the exit conveyor;
• 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.

A method of separating a compound from a solid or semi-solid substance using at least one solvent, comprising:

• introducing the substance into a pool of at least one solvent capable of dissolving the compound;
• conveying the substance downward along a first inclined surface through the pool of the solvent;
• conveying the substance upward along a second inclined surface through the pool of solvent;
• and
• conveying the substance upward along an inclined screen to separate the solvent from the from the substance,
• wherein the substance introduced into the pool comprises plant matter and the compound comprises rubber.