Double use of focused microwave irradiation for accelerated matrix hydrolysis and lipid extraction in milk samples

Irradiation with microwave energy has allowed to carry out the extraction o f lipids from milk samples (namely, cow, goat and sheep) with quantitative results similar to the Weibull-Berntrop extraction procedure but milk fat o btained by microwave assisted extraction undergoes lesser chemical transfor mation of triglycerides during the whole process. A considerable reduction of the procedure time (50 min versus 10 h) is achieved with similar reprodu cibility to that provided by the conventional method. An 'in situ' solvent recycling step makes the method environmentally clean. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.