Microwave accelerated steam distillation of essential oil from lavender: A rapid, clean and environmentally friendly approach

A new process design and operation for microwave accelerated steam distillation (MASD) of essential oils was developed. A packed bed of lavender flowers (Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Lamiaceae) sits above the steam source generated by microwave heating. Only steam passes through it without the boiling water mixing with vegetable raw material, as is the case in hydro-distillation. MASD has been compared with a conventional technique, steam distillation (SD), for the extraction of essential oil from lavender flowers. Extraction of essential oils from lavender with MASD was better than SD in terms of energy saving, rapidity (10 min versus 90 min), product yield, cleanliness and product quality.     

Improved microwave steam distillation apparatus for isolation of essential oils. Comparison with conventional steam distillation

Steam distillation (SD) is routinely used by analysts for the isolation of essential oils from herbs, flowers and spices prior to gas chromatographic analysis. In this work, a new process design and operation for an improved microwave steam distillation (MSD) of essential oils from aromatic natural products was developed. To demonstrate its feasibility, MSD was compared with the conventional technique, SD, for the analysis of volatile compounds from dry lavender flowers (Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Lamiaceae). Essential oils isolated by MSD were quantitatively (yield) and qualitatively (aromatic profile) similar to those obtained by SD, but MSD was better than SD in terms of rapidity (6 min versus 30 min for lavender flowers), thereby allowing substantial savings of costs in terms of time and energy. Lavender flowers treated by MSD and SD were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Micrographs provide evidence of more rapid opening of essential oil glands treated by MSD, in contrast to conventional SD.     

Water as a green solvent combined with different techniques for extraction of essential oil from lavender flowers

Using water as a green solvent with a variable geometry makes use of physical and chemical phenomena that are fundamentally different from those applied in conventional extraction techniques such as hydro-distillation, steam distillation or solvent extraction. Advantages and drawbacks of using water as a solvent with different physical and chemical states have been compared. A total of ten extraction techniques: hydro-distillation (HD), steam distillation (SD), turbo-hydro-distillation (THD), salt-hydro-distillation (NaCL-HD), enzyme-hydro-distillation (Enzyme-HD), micelle-hydro-distillation (Micelle-HD), ultrasound-hydro-distillation (US-HD) or subcritical water-hydro-distillation (SW-HD), solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) and microwave steam distillation (MSD) were used to extract the essential oil from lavender (Lavandula L.) and their results were compared. The quantity was measured by the yield of essential oil and the quality was evaluated using the oil composition especially the content of linalyl acetate, linalool and terpin-4-ol compared with the corresponding control sample: Hydro-distillation. For environmentally friendly of the process: extraction time, total energy consumption and CO₂ emission were considered and compared with conventional hydro-distillation. The mechanism explaining the linalyl acetate degradation has been resolved by using COSMO-RS software. Based on the present experimental conditions, it is recommended that lavender oil may be produced preferably by steam distillation assisted by microwave extraction to reduce the by-product formation by various chemical reactions and to get better oil recoveries.     

An integrated simultaneous distillation–extraction apparatus for the extraction of essential oils from herb materials and its application in Flos Magnoliae

A large number of herb materials contain essential oils with extensive bioactivities. In this work, an integrated simultaneous distillation–extraction (ISDE) apparatus was developed. To demonstrate its feasibility, the performance of ISDE was evaluated for the extraction of essential oil from Flos Magnoliae and compared with conventional techniques including steam distillation (SD) and simultaneous distillation–extraction (SDE). According to the product yield, the time consumed and the composition of oil, the essential oils isolated by ISDE were better than that obtained by SD and similar to those obtained by SDE. ISDE was also better than SDE due to its simple operation and lower consumption of energy and organic solvent. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extraction of essential oils from Algerian myrtle leaves using instant controlled pressure drop technology

In the present work, the new extraction process of Détente Instantanée Contrôlée DIC (French, for instant controlled pressure drop) was studied, developed, quantitatively and qualitatively compared to the conventional hydrodistillation method for the extraction of essential oils from Algerian myrtle leaves. DIC was used as a thermomechanical treatment, DIC subjecting the product to a high-pressure saturated steam. The DIC cycle ends with an abrupt pressure drop towards vacuum, and this instantly leads to an autovaporization of myrtle volatile compounds. An immediate condensation in the vacuum tank produced a micro-emulsion of water and essential oils. Thus, an ultra-rapid cooling of residual leaves occurred, precluding any thermal degradation. An experimental protocol was designed with 3 independent variables: saturated steam pressure between 0.1 and 0.6 MPa, resulting in a temperature between 100 and 160 °C, a total thermal processing time between 19 and 221 s, and between 2 and 6 DIC cycles. The essential oils yield was defined as the main dependent variable. This direct extraction gave high yields and high quality essential oil, as revealed by composition and antioxidant activity (results not shown). After this treatment, the myrtle leaves were recovered and hydrodistilled in order to quantify the essential oil content in residual DIC-treated samples. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed some modification of the structure with a slight destruction of cell walls after DIC treatment.     

Use of headspace mulberry paper bag micro solid phase extraction for characterization of volatile aromas of essential oils from Bulgarian rose and Provence lavender

In this study, a new sampling method called headspace mulberry paper bag micro solid phase extraction (HS-MPB-μ-SPE) combined to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been applied for the analysis of volatile aromas of liquid essential oils from Bulgarian rose and Provence lavender. The technique uses an adsorbent (Tenax TA) contained in a mulberry paper bag, minimal amount of organic solvent. Linearities for the six-points calibration curves were excellent. LOD values were in the rage from 0.38 ng mL⁻¹ to 0.77 ng mL⁻¹. Overall, precision and recovery were generally good. Phenethyl alcohol and citronellol were the main components in the essential oil from Bulgarian rose. Linalyl acetate and linalool were the most abundant components in the essential oils from true lavender or lavandin. Additionally, the relative extraction efficiencies of proposed method have been compared with HS-SPME. The overall extraction efficiency was evaluated by the relative concentration factors (CF) of the several characteristic components. CF values by HS-MPB-μ-SPE were lower than those by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME). The HS-MPB-μ-SPE method is very simple to use, inexpensive, rapid, requires small sample amounts and solvent consumption. In addition, this method allowed combining of extraction, enrichment, and clean-up in a single step. HS-MPB-μ-SPE and GC/MS is a promising technique for the characterization of volatile aroma compounds from liquid essential oils.     

Rapid determination of essential oil compounds in Artemisia Selengensis Turcz by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with microwave distillation and simultaneous solid-phase microextraction

In the work, for the first time, two solvent-free sample preparation techniques of microwave distillation (MD) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) were combined, and developed for determination of essential oil compounds in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Using the proposed method, isolation, extraction and concentration of TCM essential oil compounds can be carried out in a single step. To demonstrate its feasibility, MD-SPME was compared with a conventional technique, steam distillation (SD), for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of essential oil compounds in a TCM, Artemisia Selengensis Turcz. Forty-nine compounds in the TCM were separated and identified by the present method, while only 26 compounds were detected by SD method. Relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) values less than 9% show that the present method has good precision. The SD method required long time (6 h) to isolate of the essential oil, and large amount of organic solvent for further extraction, while MD-SPME needed little time (only 3 min) to prepare sample, and no organic solvent. These results show that MD-SPME-GC-MS is a simple, rapid and solvent-free method for determination of TCM essential oil.     

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of arsenic in essential lavender and rose oils

Analytical procedures for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric (ETAAS) determination of arsenic in essential oils from lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) and rose (Rosa damascena) are described. For direct ETAAS analysis, oil samples are diluted with ethanol or i-propanol for lavender and rose oil, respectively. Leveling off responses of four different arsenic species (arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate and dimethylarsinate) is achieved by using a composite chemical modifier: l-cysteine (0.05 g l⁻¹) in combination with palladium (2.5 μg) and citric acid (100 μg). Transverse-heated graphite atomizer (THGA) with longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction and ‘end-capped’ graphite tubes with integrated pyrolytic graphite platforms, pre-treated with Zr-Ir for permanent modification are employed as most appropriate atomizer. Calibration with solvent-matched standard solutions of As(III) is used for four- and five-fold diluted samples of lavender and rose oil, respectively. Lower dilution factors required standard addition calibration by using aqueous (for lavender oil) or i-propanol (for rose oil) solutions of As(III). The limits of detection (LOD) for the whole analytical procedure are 4.4 and 4.7 ng g⁻¹ As in levender and rose oil, respectively. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for As at 6-30 ng g⁻¹ levels is between 8 and 17% for both oils. As an alternative, procedure based on low temperature plasma ashing in oxygen with ETAAS, providing LODs of 2.5 and 2.7 ng g⁻¹ As in levender and rose oil, respectively, and R.S.D. within 8-12% for both oils has been elaborated. Results obtained by both procedures are in good agreement.     

Microwave assisted extraction of essential oils from enzymatically pretreated lavender (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lavandula angustifolia</Emphasis> Miller)

In this study, microwave assisted a hydrodistillation process (MWHD) of essential oils from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Miller) was investigated. In order to examine any potential differences in essential oil extraction, the lavender flowers underwent enzymatic pretreatment.A 2³ factorial design of experiments, combined with statistical methods of data analysis were used to optimize enzymatic pretreatment and to evaluate the influence of major variables (enzyme concentration, temperature and pH) on the performance of the microwave assisted extraction.Under optimal conditions, an extraction yield of 24 mg oil g^?1 substrate was achieved (an increase by approximately 25% in comparison with the classic extraction conditions of conventional hydrodistillation).The main compounds of the essential oils obtained were analyzed and identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Analyzing the data obtained indicated that the content of main compounds (linalool and linalyl acetate ? 73%) was greater than that obtained by conventional extraction (67%).

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Superheated water extraction, steam distillation and Soxhlet extraction of essential oils of Origanum onites

Superheated water extraction (SWE) at various temperatures (100, 125, 150 and 175°C), steam distillation, and Soxhlet extraction were compared in the extraction of essential oils from two samples of the plant Origanum onites, one cultivated, the other wild. C18 solid-phase extraction was used to elute the essential oils from the SWE aqueous extract. The compositions of the extracted essential oils obtained from all three methods were then characterized by comprehensive GC×GC/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF/MS). The highest essential oil yields were obtained by using SWE at 150°C with a flow rate of 2 mL min^–1 and a pressure of 60 bar for 30 min: these were 3.76 and 4.11% for wild and cultivated O. onites samples, respectively, expressed as a percentage of 100 g of dry (leaf) matter. The yields obtained using SWE at 150°C were slightly higher than those from conventional methods. Steam distillation was performed for 3 h, and Soxhlet extraction was completed in 12 h. The major compounds found were borneol, terpinen-4-ol and carvacrol.     

On-site field sampling and analysis of fragrance from living lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.) flowers by solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography and ion-trap mass spectrometry

Solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry has been applied as a simple alternative method for the analysis of essential oil directly from lavender intact flowering spikes and genuine oils. All recognised major oil constituents were detected by this procedure, with results comparable to those given by a conventional method (organic solvent extraction). Distinctive chromatographic profiles were found for various species.     

Development of fast enantioselective gas-chromatographic analysis using gas-chromatographic method-translation software in routine essential oil analysis (lavender essential oil)

The study aimed to find the best trade-off between separation of the most critical peak pair and analysis time, in enantioselective GC–FID and GC–MS analysis of lavender essential oil, using the GC method-translation approach. Analysis conditions were first optimized for conventional 25 m × 0.25 mm inner diameter (d_c) column coated with 6^I–VII-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2^I–VII-3^I–VII-O-ethyl-β-cyclodextrin (CD) as chiral stationary phase (CSP) diluted at 30% in PS086 (polymethylphenylpolysiloxane, 15% phenyl), starting from routine analysis. The optimal multi-rate temperature program for a pre-set column pressure was determined and then used to find the pressures producing the efficiency-optimized flow (EOF) and speed-optimized flow (SOF). This method was transferred to a shorter narrow-bore (NB) column (11 m × 0.10 mm) using method-translation software, keeping peak elution order and separation. Optimization of the enantioselective GC method with the translation approach markedly reduced the analysis time of the lavender essential oil, from about 87 min with the routine method to 40 min with an optimal multi-rate temperature program and initial flow with a conventional inner diameter column, and to 15 min with FID as detector or 13.5 min with MS with a corresponding narrow-bore column, while keeping enantiomer separation and efficiency.     

Reporting effective extraction methodology and chemical characterization of bioactive components of under explored Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco from semi-arid climate

The bioactive ingredients of many essential oils are complex and difficult to reproduce synthetically. In the present study, the influence of extraction method on relative extraction of bioactive compounds of essential oil of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (Thuja orientalis L. is a synonym of it) leaves gathered from semi-arid climate was studied. A higher yield of essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation (0.1%) as compared to steam distillation (0.07%) under newly optimized conditions. Initial analysis of these oils by TLC showed the presence of different polarity groups ranging from non-polar terpene hydrocarbons to polar terpenoid alcohols. GC-MS analysis revealed that major component of hydrodistilled essential oil of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco leaves was α-pinene (17.83%) and steam distilled essential oil contained α-cedrol (12.44%). The results obtained in the present study emphasize that suitable extraction technique should be used to obtain particular component of interest.     

Determination of trace elements in the Lavender inflorescence (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) — Lavender oil system

Bulgaria is a famous world producer of essential oils. Quality control of the lavender oils produced is an important analytical task in view of their wide use in perfumery and cosmetics, the food industry and aromatherapy. The present paper studies the relationship between the trace elements content in lavender inflorescence (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and in lavender oil derived from this inflorescence. Three model regions were investigated: two of them are situated far from industrial areas — the village of Zelenikovo and the town of Pavel Banya, and one region is located near the Plovdiv Non-Ferrous Metallurgical Plant. The content of the elements Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb in plants was determined after acid digestion by flame and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Lavender oils were analyzed directly by ETAAS. The results undoubtedly show that there is no strong correlation between the trace elements content in inflorescence and in essential oils. It might be assumed that the trace elements present and accumulated in the inflorescence do not pass in lavender oil during the production by steam distillation.     

超临界CO2流体萃取法与水蒸气蒸馏法提取荆芥穗挥发油化学成分的研究

采用超临界CO2萃取法(SFE)与水蒸气蒸馏法(SD)从荆芥穗中提取挥发油。采用SE-54毛细管柱进行分析,用气相色谱-质谱法对挥发油中各种化学成分进行鉴定,用归一化法测定各组分的含量。色谱条件:SE-54毛细管柱 (30 m×0.25 mm i.d.,0.25 μm),柱温50 ℃(3 min)5 ℃/min180 ℃(2 min)10 ℃/min260 ℃(50 min);分流进样,分流比1∶50;进样口温度280 ℃。在采用超临界CO2萃取法提取的挥发油中共鉴定出54种成分,其主要成分为长叶薄荷酮、薄荷酮、亚油酸氯化物等;在水蒸气蒸馏法提取的挥发油中共鉴定出39种成分,其主要成分为长叶薄荷酮、薄荷酮、柠檬烯等。超临界法较水蒸气法更加稳定可靠,重现性好,适用于中药挥发油的化学成分分析。     

Molecular Distillation of Lavender Supercritical Extracts: Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Characterization of Feedstocks and Assessment of Distillates Enriched with Oxygenated Fragrance Components

Lavandula angustifolia is one of the most widely cultivated non-food crops used in the production of essential oil; it is used in perfumery, aromatherapy, pharmaceutical preparations, and food ingredients. In this study, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and molecular distillation (MD) were combined, primarily to enrich scCO₂ extracts with lavender oxygenated monoterpenes, avoiding thermal degradation, hydrolysis, and solvent contamination, and maintaining the natural characteristics of the obtained oils. Molecular distillation was developed for the first time for the extraction of crucial lavender fragrance ingredients, i.e., from two scCO₂ extracts obtained from dry flower stems of lavender cultivated in Poland and Bulgaria. The best results for high-quality distillates were obtained at 85 °C (EVT) and confirmed that linalyl acetate content increased from 51.54 mg/g (initial Bulgarian lavender extract, L-Bg-E) and 89.53 mg/g (initial Polish lavender extract, L-Pl-E) to 118.41 and 185.42 mg/g, respectively, corresponding to increases of 2.3 and 2.1 times in both distillate streams, respectively. The distillates, light oils, and extracts from lavender were also evaluated for their antimicrobial properties by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the broth microdilution method. Generally, Gram-positive bacteria and Candida spp. were more sensitive to all distilled fractions and extracts than Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria).     

Microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity, a new technique for extraction of essential oils

A new process design and operation for the extraction of essential oils was developed. Microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity (MHG) is a combination of microwaves for hydrodiffusion of essential oils from the inside to the exterior of biological material and earth gravity to collect and separate. MHG is performed at atmospheric pressure without adding any solvent or water. MHG has been compared with a conventional technique, hydrodistillation (HD), for the extraction of essential oil from two aromatic herbs: spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) and pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) belonging to the Labiatae family. The essential oils extracted by MHG for 15 min were quantitatively (yield) and qualitatively (aromatic profile) similar to those obtained by conventional hydrodistillation for 90 min. MHG also prevents pollution through potential 90% of energy saved which can lead to greenhouse gas emission benefits.     

Ultrasound-Microwave Hybrid-Assisted Extraction Coupled to Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction for Fast Analysis of Essential Oil in Dry Traditional Chinese Medicine by GC–MS

A novel one-step sample preparation technique termed ultrasound-microwave hybrid-assisted extraction coupled to headspace solid-phase microextraction (UMHE-HS-SPME) was developed in this study, which was used for the determination of essential oils in dry traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The dry roots of Angelica dahurica were used as the model TCM. In this work, ultrasound-assisted extraction was first combined with microwave-assisted extraction coupled to headspace solid-phase microextraction and applied to the rapid determination of A. dahurica. Sample preparations including isolation, extraction, and concentration of essential oils were performed in a single step. The effects of various parameters including fiber coating, ultrasound power, and irradiation time were investigated thoroughly and optimized. To further demonstrate the method’s feasibility, the conventional steam distillation (SD) method was used for the analysis of essential oils in the TCM to compare with the proposed method. The results show that more essential oil compounds were isolated and identified by UMHE-HS-SPME than by SD. Moreover, compounds with higher boiling point and many more oxygenated compounds were extracted from A. dahurica by the proposed method. In addition, the SD method required a long time (6 h) to isolate the essential oils, and large amounts of organic solvent for further extraction, while UMHE-HS-SPME needed only 10 min to prepare the samples, and no organic solvent. Relative standard deviation values less than 10 % show that the present method has good precision. According to the experimental results, the advantages of the proposed method are: short extraction time, high extraction efficiency, and solvent-free extraction. Thus, UMHE-HS-SPME is an alternative tool for fast analysis of essential oils in dry TCMs and can be potentially extended to other target analytes in dry matrix.     

Antibacterial activities of essential oils extracted from leaves of Murraya koenigii by solvent-free microwave extraction and hydro-distillation

Solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) for the isolation of essential oil from leaves of Murraya koenigii L. (Rutaceae) has been compared with the conventional hydro-distilled oil (HD) in terms of yield, composition, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial activity against Listeria innocua. The yield of essential oil obtained from 30 min of SFME was similar to that of HD for 180 min. By GC-MS analysis, the major compounds of the essential oil extracted by SFME, which were obtained in somewhat lower amounts than in the essential oil obtained by HD, were alpha-copaene (44.3%), beta-gurjunene (25.5%), isocaryophyllene (12.1%), beta-caryophyllene (8.7%) and germacrene D (2.9%). The content of oxygenated terpenes, slightly higher for the SFME-essential oil (2.3%) than the HD-essential oil (1.4%), were much lower than that of nonoxygenated terpenes in both oils. DPPH radical scavenging activities of both essential oils were relatively low (10%-24%). Complete inhibition of growth of L. innocua was observed with both SFME and HD essential oils, at 400 and 600 microg/mL (minimum inhibitory concentration), respectively. The SFME-essential oil at 300 microg/mL provided 92% inhibition, indicating its potential as a natural antimicrobial agent.     

Comparison of Constituents and Insecticidal Activities of Essential Oil from Artemisia lavandulaefolia by Steam Distillation and Supercritical-CO2 Fluid Extraction

Essential oil was extracted from Artemisia lavandulaefolia DC.by steam distillation(SD) and supercritical-CO2 fluid extraction(SFE),respectively.The constituents of the essentil oils extracted with those two methods were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) and insecticidal activities of the essential oils were evaluated,then the results were compared to assess their biological activity.Thirty-one compounds were identified in the essential oil extracted by SD,and its main components were eucalyptol,α,α,4-trimethyl-3-cyclohexene-1-methanol and so on.Twenty-two compounds were identified for the essential oil extracted by SFE,and its main components were cyclodecene,n-hexadecanoic acid and so on.Six chemical compositions were all contained in the essential oils extracted by the two methods,i.e.,eucalyptol,α,α,4-trimethyl-3-cyclohexene-1-methanol,caryophyllene,[3aS-(3aα,3bβ,4β,7α,7aS)]-octahydro-7-methyl-3-methylene-4-(1-methylethyl)-1H-cyclopenta[1,3]cyclopropa-[1,2]benzene,nerolidol and(-)-Spathulenol.The fumigation toxicity of the essential oil obtained by means of SD to the adults of Sitophilus zeamais is significantly higher than that of the essential oil by means of SFE.The contact toxicity of the essential oil obtained by means of SFE to the adults of S.zeamais is higher than that of the essential oil obtained by means of SD,but the difference is not significant.