Abstract: The invention provides a method for the extraction of an organic acid (10) from a mixture (110), the method comprising: an extraction stage comprising providing the mixture (110) to a sorbent (150); an elution stage comprising passing an eluent along the sorbent (120) to provide an eluate (140), wherein the eluent (130) comprises a solvent selected from the group consisting of acetone and alcohols, and wherein the eluent (130) comprises at least 0.1 M of OH—, and wherein the eluent (130) comprises at least 0.1 M of an cation selected from the group comprising Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and NH4+; a precipitation stage comprising providing CO2 (150) to the eluate (140), wherein the CO2 (150) and the cation form a carbonate, wherein the carbonate precipitates; and a separation stage comprising separating the organic acid (10) from the eluate (140).