Abstract: A method of selectively recovering a hydrophobic target substance. The method is applied to a solution of the target substance in a hydrophobic solvent. An insoluble polysaccharide is combined with the solution, the solution is passed over the insoluble polysaccharide or otherwise exposed to the insoluble polysaccharide. A hydrophilic solvent, which is less hydrophobic than the hydrophobic solvent, is combined with the solution or combined with the hydrophobic target substance and the insoluble polysaccharide after evaporation of the hydrophobic solvent to facilitate binding of the insoluble polysaccharide with the target substance rather than remaining in solution in the hydrophobic solvent. The cyclic polysaccharide is isolated from the solution. A dissociation solvent is combined with the cyclic polysaccharide for solubilizing the target substance from the cyclic polysaccharide and recovering the target substance.