SUPERCRITICAL CO2 EXTRACTION AND FRACTIONATION OF LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL AND WAXES

Supercritical CO2 extraction of essential oil from lavender was performed on a laboratory apparatus as well as in a pilot plant. A two-stage separation procedure was used to induce the fractional separation of the extracts. Detailed CC-MS analysis of the products was performed to assess the best extraction and the best separation conditions. The lavender oil produced by supercritical extraction was compared to the oil obtained by hydrodistillation. The major difference between the two products was reflected in the linalyl acetate content. This compound was found to be 34.7% of the oil produced by supercritical fluid extraction and 12.1% of the hydrodistilled product. This difference can be ascribed to the hydrolysis of part of this compound during hydrodistillation. The oil yield of the extraction process was measured at various extraction lengths. It was modeled using a simple mathematical model.