Steam Distillation Essential Oil Extraction Methods

The hot steam helps to release the aromatic molecules from the plant material since the steam forces open the pockets in which the oils are kept in the plant material.

Steam distillation essential oil extraction methods.

Nearly all essential oils are obtained using physical extraction methods with most essential oils. Steam distillation is the most popular method used to extract and isolate essential oils from plants for use in natural products. This happens when the steam vaporizes the plant material s volatile compounds which eventually go through a condensation and collection process. Fresh or sometimes dried botanical.

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. Steam distillation is the most common method of extracting essential oils. Steam distillation and cold pressing. Oils derived from steam distillation vary in their qualities depending on the temperatures pressures and length of time applied for the process.

Essential oil extraction methods. 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.