Steam Distillation Essential Oil Extraction Methods

Steam distillation is the most popular method used to extract and isolate essential oils from plants for use in natural products.

Steam distillation essential oil extraction methods.

Fresh or sometimes dried botanical. Oils derived from steam distillation vary in their qualities depending on the temperatures pressures and length of time applied for the process. Steam distillation is a process used for the recovery of volatile compounds with high boiling point from inert and complex matrices solid or liquid using saturated or superheated steam as separation and energy agent cerpa et al 2008 this process is used for the extraction of essential oil from plants palma et al 2013 in practice the process uses water and or steam as extracting. Nearly all essential oils are obtained using physical extraction methods with most essential oils.

Essential oil extraction methods. Essential oils are mixtures of aromatic chemicals present in plant material such as leaves buds flowers fruit bark root or wood and are comprised of various natural compounds including terpenes acids aldehydes alcohols esters and ketones. Steam distillation is the most widely used method for the extraction of essential oils and isolation of petroleum components. Steam distillation and cold pressing.

When steam distillation is used in the manufacture and extraction of essential oils the botanical material is placed in a still and steam is forced over the material. Essential oils derived from the supercritical co2 extraction of herbs are similar to the oils produced through distillation in that they can be used in aromatherapy and natural perfumery. Steam distillation is done in a still the still is tall with a head and a well insulated swan s neck preceded by a mechanism to prevent fumes and impurities passing through. Steam distillation is the most common method of extracting essential oils.