Investigation of optimal thermal parameters for essential oils extraction using laboratory and solar distillation systems
Abstract
Essential oils are used in medicines, foods, fragrances, perfumery and cosmetics etc. Different methods are used for essential oils extraction. Out of all these methods, distillation methods have advantage of extracting refine essence of the plant materials and herbs by evaporating volatile components. The main object of the research is to investigate optimal thermal parameters and to develop simple and best methodologies for easy adaptation of these techniques for decentralized applications. The research for essential oils extraction was conducted under laboratory conditions and by using solar energy. For each laboratory experiment, equal weights of the herbs were used. The energy consumption for different herbs was recorded with the help of energy meters and process curves were drawn for comparison. The heat energy consumption to extract one milliliter of essential oil from Cloves buds, Fennel, Cumin, Patchouli, Cassia and Orange barks was found to be 0.133, 0.503, 0.574, 2.716, 2.807 kWh respectively. The methodology and thermal parameters provide useful information regarding temperature and energy requirements to process different herbs. On the basis of laboratory results, a de-centralized solar distillation system was developed using Scheffler reflector (8 m2 aperture area) and evaluated. The power and system efficiency of solar based system was found to be 1.58 kW and 43.25% respectively. Successful results were obtained for essential oils extraction from herbs by using solar energy. These results were found similar to that of laboratory showing that the solar energy can be effectively used for the distillation of essential oils.
Keywords: Essential oils, herbs, scheffler reflector, solar distillation
Citation: Munir A., and O. Hensel. Investigation of optimal thermal parameters for essential oils extraction using laboratory and solar distillation systems. Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 2010, 12(1): 107-114.
