Why is steam distillation used to extract essential oils?

Steam distillation, the method used in this lab for essential oil extraction, takes advantage of the volatility of a compound to evaporate when heated with steam and the hydrophobicity of the compound to separate into an oil phase during condensation.

What are the different methods of extraction of essential oil?

The extraction of essential oils is generally carried out by two main techniques: azeotropic distillation (hydrodistillation, hydrodiffusion, and steam distillation) and extraction with solvents. However, these traditional methods are a bit expensive, especially since they are extremely energy and solvent consuming.

Is steam distilled essential oil better?

The molecules of these volatile oils escape from the plant material and evaporate into the steam, purifying the oil. This superior method of extraction allows for continual temperature control of the steam applied to the plant materials, thus preventing degradation of the delicate botanical oils.

What is the difference between steam distilled and cold pressed essential oils?

Distillation is the most common method that uses heat, however it diminishes the vital parts of a plant. Cold pressed oils are separated from the plant through grinding, scraping, and pressing, without any use of heat throughout the entire process.

What is the difference between simple distillation and steam distillation?

This behavior occurs because a lower vapor pressure is necessary for boiling, which can be achieved at a lower temperature. Steam distillation is analogous to simple distillation, the main difference being that steam (or water) is used in the distilling flask along with the material to be distilled.

What are the disadvantages of steam distillation?

Disadvantages: More time consuming due to due to the low pressure of rising steam. Water on the substance to be distilled causes it to vaporize in delayed time [10].

What does steam distillation do?

Steam distillation is a separation technique that harnesses the low boiling point property of immiscible mixtures. It is predominately used to separate temperature-sensitive organic molecules from a non-volatile contaminant. The organic molecule must be immiscible in water.

What is the difference between hydrodistillation and steam distillation?

The key difference between steam distillation and hydrodistillation is that steam distillation uses steam for the extraction whereas hydrodistillation uses water, steam or a combination of water and steam for the extraction.

Which oils are extracted by steam distillation?

In this method, steam is passed through the plant material containing the desired oils. Eucalyptus oil, camphor oil and orange oil are obtained by this method on an industrial scale. Steam distillation is also sometimes used in chemical laboratories as one of many substance separation methods.

What is solvent extraction in essential oils?

Solvent extraction is a method of extracting essential oils that is dominated by the perfume industry. And technically does not produce therapeutic grade oils because chemicals such as hexane, acetone, di-methylene-chloride and others are used in the process!

What is the difference between cold pressed and essential oils?

Cold pressed oils are fatty oils extracted from seeds, nuts or fatty fruits such as olives (scientifically, olives are a fruit). These oils are usually used in cooking. Essential oils are highly concentrated, intensely fragrant and extracted from aromatic plants such as lavender.

Are all essential oils distilled?

Distillation. Most common essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, tea tree oil, patchouli, and eucalyptus are distilled. Raw plant material, consisting of the flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds, or peel, is put into an alembic (distillation apparatus) over water.

What is the difference between steam distillation and solvent extraction?

Solvent extraction on the other hand produces oils with heavier molecules–this is why many absolutes are often thicker than essential oils. Because of this, certain molecules that naturally occur in plants are too large and therefore don’t appear in the oils that steam distillation produces, but they will appear in absolute oils.

What are the methods of extracting essential oils from plants?

UNTAPPING THE POWER OF NATURE: ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTION METHODS. 1 STEAM DISTILLATION. Steam Distillation is the most popular method used to extract and isolate essential oils from plants for use in natural products. 2 SOLVENT EXTRACTION. 3 CO2 EXTRACTION. 4 MACERATION. 5 ENFLEURAGE.

Why is steam used to extract essential oils?

This allows for the essential oils to be extracted at a low temperature which will not damage the plant matter. As the steam is released and passes through the organic plant material, tiny pockets which hold the essential oils will open and release the oil molecules into the air without causing any damage to the distillate.

What is steam extraction and how does it work?

Steam extraction functions by passing steam through plant material which has been stored in a large holding tank or chamber, known as a “distillation column”. This allows for the essential oils to be extracted at a low temperature which will not damage the plant matter.