Abstract

CASSEL, Eduardo  and  VARGAS, Rubem M. F.. Experiments and Modeling of the Cymbopogon winterianus Essential Oil Extraction by Steam Distillation. J. Mex. Chem. Soc [online]. 2006, vol.50, n.3, pp.126-129. ISSN 1870-249X.

This work has as objective to optimize and to model the yield of the citronella essential oil extraction processes from twigs and leaves by steam distillation. The process variables evaluated in this study were extraction time, and raw material state (dry or natural). The yield is calculated from the relation between the essential oil mass obtained and the raw material mass used in the extraction and the quantitative and qualitative analyses of the oils were performed by capillary GC/MS. The experimental condition for the maximum yield, 0.942%, is the following one: extraction time, 4 h, state, natural plant, and the results obtained from the factorial experimental planning indicate that the variable that more influences the essential oil yield is the state. The modeling of these results is proposed from the description of the mass transfer from a single plate particle. Yield curves for all studied conditions were fairly well fitted using one adjustable parameter of the model and the experimental monitoring of oil composition as function of extraction time was realized in laboratory steam distillation apparatus and compared with industrial scale results.

Keywords : Citronella essential oil; steam distillation; mass transfer; mathematical model.