[foxfourfive]

I'm finding it hard to get my head around what exactly is happening in this process, this is a selection of the instructions I have been given.

"This basic solution was extracted with 4x100 mL of ether, and the pooled ether extracts backextracted with 3x100 mL dilute sulfuric acid. These bright yellow extracts were made basic with saturated aqueous sodium carbonate, extracted with 3x100 mL methylene chloride which, after pooling and removal solvent under vacuum, yielded 4.11g."

What exactly is back extraction, and what is it's role here?

[AWK]

It is a sequential extraction (extraction from the extract - usually with using a different solvent).