Experiment on extraction of essential oil
Sunday, December 01, 2013
HEY GUYS! HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING?!
Here's one of the lab session we have for our IFF (Flavours & Fragrance) practical.
For this experiment, each group are required to research and select on the raw material they will be working on for the extraction of aromatic compound via the use of steam distillation method. For my group, we have chosen to work on lemongrass!
Before we can carried out the steam distillation process, there are some preparation to be done.
The lemongrass was first broken into smaller pieces as shown in the image above.
Next, it was pour into a blender for blending.
It was then poured into a rbf (round bottom flask). And finally it is ready for steam distillation!
This is the set-up for performing the steam distillation technique. It was somewhat a long process as we were required to wait for sufficient distillate to be collected before proceeding to the subsequent steps. Meanwhile, de-ionised water was added into the rbf whenever necessary. This is to prevent the content in the rbf from drying up.
Meanwhile waiting..... look what I have found!
Isn't it cute? Does it remind you of the bulb people use to hang on Christmas trees? HAHAHAHA!!!
Guess what's inside?
It is actually PEPPERMINT leaves!!!
My friends from other group were working on the extraction of peppermint oil!
[At the end of the experiment, I did get to smell their peppermint oil and guess what?! It smell minty, sweet and refreshing!!! I love the smell as it reminds me of those minty sweet like 'eclipse mint'! HAHAHA!]
As you can see from the image above, it seemed that it was just an empty plastic tube. However, there was actually 0.1g of our precious yield in it. Well, guess we have used too little lemongrass for extraction.
Is it consider a successful experiment? Hmmm....I would say "yes" in terms of carrying out the whole experiment alas, '"not quite successful" for our % yield. In comparison with the previous experiment we have carried out, it is definitely not as successful this time round.
2 weeks ago, we carried out the same experiment (steam distillation) with the use of orange peels for the extraction of Limonene.
And this was the amount of yield my group have acquired for our experiment.
All in all, although our % yield for the lemongrass oil was so little, it was fun extracting out the oil of our desired choice and I love the lemongrass scent too!!!
Before I end off my post, I would like to wish all DPCS yr 3s, 2s & 1s all the best for your MST for this coming week! GOGOGO!!!
I better get to study too~! Bye~!
Faithfully
Jia Hui
Year 2
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