NOVELTY - Microwave assisted extraction of oils from oil/tar sands, refuse plastics, rubber, bituminous coal, biomass, kerosene, naphtha, propane and/or oil/tar sands with corn, eucalyptus, oil palm, and coconuts, maize, jatropha, algae bagasse, miscanthus, sugar beet, sorghum, grain sorghum, switchgrass, barley, hemp, kenaf, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, sunflower, fruit, molasses, corn, stover, grain, wheat, straw, cotton and other biomass.    USE - The method is useful in extraction of oils using microwave. The extracted oils and/or by products are useful in food, cosmetics, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. The extracted oils and/or by products are preferably useful as natural non-ionic surfactants e.g. emulsification and foaming agents and detergents, as feed additives, as human vaccine adjuvants, as bacterial and vegetable growth regulators, in health products and cosmetics e.g. shower gels, shampoos, foam baths, hair conditioners and lotions, bath/shower detergents, liquid soaps, baby care products, mouth washes and toothpastes, and for soil remediation. The Quillaja saponaria oils and/or by products are useful as raw materials for production of hormones, immunological adjuvants and as drugs. The extracted oils and/or by products are useful as a foaming agent in water- based, flavored non-alcoholic drinks, as an emulsifier for preparations containing lipophilic colors or flavors that are added to soft drinks, fermented vegetables and dressing, as antimicrobial and anti-yeast agents, as flavoring agents, and for removal of cholesterol from dairy products such as butter oil. The by-products such as soybean concentrates are useful as functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals. The by-products are useful to generate electricity, for preparation of building materials substitutes e.g. wood panels, for preparation of decorating material, paper bags, packaging material, clothing, furniture and flooring materials, for preparation of construction and thermal insulation materials, geotextiles, plastic-molded materials, speciality papers and construction fiberboard, and for preparation of fertilizer and fodder.    ADVANTAGE - Since the process is performed by microwave irradiation, the generation of smog is reduced.