Advantages

Disadvantages

The sample is repeatedly brought into contact with fresh portions of extractant, which facilitates displacement of the transfer equilibrium.

Samples are usually extracted at the solvent boiling point over long periods, which can result in thermal decomposition of thermolabile target species

The system remains at a relatively high temperature by effect of the heat applied to the distillation flask reaching the extraction cavity to some extent.

Large amount of extractant wasted which is not only expensive to dispose of, but also the source of additional environmental problems.

No filtration is required after leaching

Long time required for extraction

Low cost of the basic equipment

Conventional Soxhlet device provides no agitation

Soxhlet extraction is a very simple methodology that requires little training

The Soxhlet technique is limited by extractant and difficult to automate

Sample throughput can be increased by performing several simultaneous extractions in parallel

Energy consuming and conventionally used high amount of petroleum solvents

Extract of more sample mass than most of the latest alternatives (microwave-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, etc.)

The large amounts of extractant used call for an evaporation concentration step after extraction.