Why is it not possible to use ethanol to extract an organic compound from water even though most organics.....

Question

Why is it not possible to use ethanol to extract an organic compound from water even though most organics are more soluble in ethanol than in water?

Answer 1

ethanol is fully miscible in water, so it would form a homogenous liquid. If you add ethanol to a solution in water, then you'd have a solution in ethanol and water. You'd then have to find a way to get rid of the water without affecting the ethanol and solute.