Comparison of ether and chloroform for Soxhlet extraction of freeze-dried animal tissues.

Chloroform was a satisfactory replacement for ether in solvent extraction for lipid determination in freeze-dried animal tissues, although values obtained were not identical. Fat content of tissues used in this study ranged from less than 10 to more than 95%. Chloroform has the great advantage of being fireproof, but proper fume hoods should be used. An antifoaming agent should be added to chloroform, both in the Soxhlet apparatus and when it is redistilled.