Essential Oil Extraction Lab Activity
Essential oils have been used throughout human societies for as long as documentation exists. These oils were originally used for their aromatic quality as parts of ceremonial or religious events and evolved as a means of treating both physical and mental illness. Essential oils have been of interest to chemist for many years. These oils represent a diverse class of organic molecules that can be used to teach many aspects of organic chemistry, analytical methods, as well as many areas within the liberal arts. In this workshop you will be presented with the following:
1) Isolation techniques
- Steam distillation
- Clevenger distillation (file:///Users/besturgeon/Downloads/Aromatic%20plant%20extr%20methods.pdf)
- Soxhlet Extraction
- fractional distillation
- others?
2) Separation techniques
- GC
- HPLC
3) Characterization
- GC-MS
- NMR (low-field and high field)
4) Samples of oils and main compounds of interest. Kits?
5) "Smell" activity
CSB 318 Room Description
- -This is the general chemistry lab.
- -There are 3 ~ 20' lab benches (designed for 24 students).
- -There are 2 - 6' fume hoods with services (air, vac, N2, water, natural gas).
- -Side benches (6 top-loading balances, 200 g max).
- -There are sinks one the side benches.
- -RO water taps at sinks.
- -power, vac, gas, air services on benches.
- -Instructor's computer station with projection screen on whiteboards (~16')
Equipment available in CSB 318
1) 4 - Steam distillation setups with small water pumps for condenser...complete and functional.
2) 8 - additional "reservoir flasks" (top part of distillation setup).
3) 8 - additional receivers (where to oil is collected).
4) 4 - "cleanout" sticks to remove plant material.
5) Soxlet Extractor (if desired) A student of mine has been using this for extracting curcuminoids from turmeric...it is neat to watch.
6) full lab drawers with glassware and iron ware/ring stands.
7) dried plant material (basal, others???)
Planned Workshop Activities
Samples that can be steam distilled:
Citrus
Orange Oil
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_oil
Lemon Oil
Lime Oil
Grapefruit Oil
Mint
Basil
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/herbs/?sort=featured&page=3
Spicy Basil(Ocimun americanum or basilicum ???)
Sweet Basil (Ocimun basilicum)
Holy Basil (Ocimum_tenuiflorum)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocimum_tenuiflorum
- http://www.johnnyseeds.com/herbs/basil/kapoor-tulsi-holy-basil-organic-basil-seed-6021G.html?cgid=basil#start=1
Tree Basil (Ocimun gratissimum)
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/herbs/?sort=featured&page=3
Lemon Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. citriodora 'Mrs. Burns')
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Burns_lemon_basil
- http://www.johnnyseeds.com/herbs/basil/mrs.-burns-lemon-basil-seed-774.html?cgid=basil#start=1
Lime Basil
Cinnamon Basil ()