Extraction of Maltol from Fraser Fir: A Comparison of Microwave-Assisted Extraction and Conventional Heating Protocols for the Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Two methods for the extraction of maltol from Fraser fir needles are performed and compared in this two-week experiment. A traditional benchtop extraction using dichloromethane is compared to a microwave-assisted extraction using aqueous ethanol. Students perform both procedures and weigh the merits of each technique. In doing so, students see a trade-off between the ease of working with a highly volatile organic solvent and the selectivity that can be achieved with the greener solvent combination. This experiment combines multiple lab techniques, highlights the connections between chemistry and biology, and provides straightforward [superscript 1]H NMR spectra to support the introduction of spectroscopy in first-semester organic chemistry.