Compositions useful in liquid-liquid extraction processes for improving the taste of water-soluble surfactants, said composition comprising: from about 5% to about 60%, by weight of the composition, of water soluble surfactant; from about 10% to about 90%, by weight of the composition, of water; from about 10% to about 90%, by weight of the composition, of extraction solvent; at least 0. The systems herein include first and second elongate rods that translate with respect to one another via rotation of an actuation member at an end of one of the rods. The machine further comprises control means for changing each of writing current, stage movement, beam deflection and beam blanking between a predetermined first mode optimised for pattern-writing accuracy, thus resolution, and a predetermined second mode different from the first mode and optimised for pattern-writing speed, thus throughput. The nanostructures are functionalized with carboxylic acid. -furofuran lignan and -furofuran lignan, as well as an optical isomer thereof, can be selectively prepared by means of the method.