INTRODUCTION:

An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile

aroma compounds from plants. They are also known as volatile oils,
ethereal oils, aetherolea etc. Essential oils are made up of highly volatile
substances which can be extracted from numerous plant species.
Distillation based recovery processes such as steam and vacuum distillation
are preferred for the extraction of essential oils from plant materials.
Virtually all naturally occurring essential oils are made up of hydrocarbons
such as camphene, pinene, limonene, phellandrene cedrene, and
oxygenated hydrocarbons such as alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ethers,
ketones, lactones, phenols and organic acids. The essential oils get their
odors from the oxygenated compounds contained in them and these
confer stability on the oil against oxidation. The hydrocarbons are less
stable and they are responsible for the degradation observed in the oils.
The hydrocarbons contained in the essential oils are often removed so that
the oils can be more stable and still retain their odours and flavors.

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THEORY:
Steam distillation is a type of distillation (a separation or extraction process) for a
temperature-sensitive plant such as natural aromatic compounds. It once was a
popular laboratory method for purification of organic compounds but has become
obsolete by vacuity distillation. Steam distillation is one of ancient and official
approved methods for isolation of essential oils from plant materials. The injected
steam passes through the plants from the base of the alembic to the top. Steam
distillation is a method where steam flows through the material as shown in diagram
below. This steam functions as agents that break up the pores of the raw material and
release the essential oil from it.

This vapour is then condensed further and the essential oil is collected. The principle
of this technique is that the combined vapour pressure equals the ambient pressure
at about 100 °C so that the volatile components with the boiling points ranging from
150 to 300 °C can be evaporated at a temperature close to that of water. Furthermore,
this technique can be also carried out under pressure depending on the essential oils
extraction difficulty. We are all familiar with the pleasant odours coming out from
flowers, spices and many trees. The essence or aromas of plants are due to volatile
oils present in them. These smelling volatile oils present in plants are called essential
oils.

Essential oils are mainly used for their pleasant odours and flavors in perfumes and as
flavoring agents in foods chemically essential oils are composed of complex mixtures
of ester, alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones and hydrocarbons. They are essentially
non-polar compounds and are thus soluble in non-polar solvents such as petroleum
ether, benzene etc. Essential oils may occur in all parts of the plant, but they are often
concentrated in the seeds or flowers. They are obtained from the plants by the
process of steam distillation and extraction. The technique of steam distillation
permits the separation of volatile components from non-volatile materials without
raising the temperature of the distillation above 100° C. Thus steam distillation
reduces the risk of decomposition of essential oils.

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CAROM OIL (AJWAIN):

>Botanical name: Trachyspermum ammi

>Common Method of Extraction: Distillation
>Aroma: Warm, Pungent, Peppery
>Extraction: Ajwain oil is extracted from the crushed seeds of ajwain by the
method of steam distillation.
>Chemical composition: The main constituents of the ajwain oil are
thymol, gamma-terpinene, pcymene, and beta-pinene. Alpha- pinene,
alpha- thujene, beta-myrcene, carvacrol, limonene, and terpinene-4-ol.
There are variations in the composition of ajwain oils depending upon the
region where it is cultivated. For instance, ajwain oil collected from
Southern India is rich in thymol.

Uses:

>It is used for skin alinments. Ajwain can help with pimples.
>It is used as digestive aid. One can treat indigestion, ulcers, and various
other bacterial infections of the gut with ajwain seeds and essential oil. >It
is Useful in aromatherapy, ajwain oil offers calming sensations that relieves
neuralgia and migraines

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CARDAMOM OIL (ELAICHI):

>Botanical Name: Elettaria cardamonum

>Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distillation
>Aroma: Very complex and smooth spice aroma
>Extraction: Cardamom oil is extracted using steam distillation method.
For this, seeds of the fruit are used just before they ripe. The yield through
this process is normally 1 to 5 per cent
>Chemical Composition: Cardamom oil is extracted using steam distillation
method. For this, seeds of the fruit are used just before they ripe. The yield
through this process is normally 1 to 5 per cent. Cardamom oil contains
sabinene, myrcene, a-pinene, b-pinene, aphellandrene, limonene, p-
cymene, terpinolene, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene, linalool, linalyl acetate, a-
terpineol acetate, citronellol, nerol, terpinen-4-oil, aterpineol, geraniol,
methyl eugenol and trans-nerolidol.

Uses:

>Cardamom oil has a vast range of usage for treatment of sciatica, coughs,
abdominal pains, spasm and nervous disorders.
>Traditionally, it is used for pulmonary disease, fever, digestive and urinary
problems in India and China for over 3000 years.
>It is also used to flavour pharmaceutical products. Apart from
pharmaceutical usage, cardamom oil is also used as a fragrant in soaps,
perfumes and cosmetic products

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ANISEED OIL(SAUNF):

Botanical Name: Pimpinella anisum

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distillation
Aromatic Description: Distinctive scent of licorice. Rich and sweet.
Color: Clear
Constituents: a-pinene, camphene, B-pinene, linalool, cis-anethole,
transanethole, safrole, anisaldehyde, acetoanisole.

Uses:

>Its most common flavouring applications include being added to liqueurs,

alcohol, gelatins, various candies, mints, chewing gum, and dairy products.
Oil of aniseed is also reported to be used as an aromatic carminative to
relieve flatulence, and as an ingredient of cough lozenges in combination
with liquorice.
>To add a richer and more robust scent, Aniseed Essential Oil is also often
added to cosmetic products such as shampoos, conditioners, creams,
soaps, and perfumes.
>Aniseed essential oil contains anethol, which is an effective anti-viral
component.
>Aniseed oil can be made into a liquid scent and is used for both hunting
and fishing. It is put on fishing lures to attract fish.

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ANISEED PLANT:

>Aniseed, on steam distillation, yields an essential oil, known as 'Oil of

Aniseed, which has now replaced the fruits for medicinal and flavoring
purposes.

>Aniseed oil is a colorless or pale-yellow liquid having the characteristic

odor and taste of the fruit. The yield of oil generally varies from 1.9 to 3.1
per cent. Higher values up to 6 per cent have been reported from
Syrian aniseed. Crushing of fruits prior to distillation gives better yields of
oil. The material should be distilled soon after the crushing to prevent any
loss of oil due to evaporation.

>Aniseed oil is a highly refractive liquid, which solidifies on cooling. The

congealing point depends much on the anethole content and is a valuable
criterion for evaluating the oil. Exposure of the oil to air causes
polymerization, and some oxidation also takes place with the formation of
anisaldehyde and anisic acid.

>The chief constituent of aniseed oil is anethole, which is present to the

extent of 80 to 90 per cent and is mainly responsible for the characteristic
flavor of the oil. The oil also contains methyl chavicol, p- methoxyphenyl
acetone, and small amount of terpenes and sulfur containing compounds
of disagreeable odour.

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REQUIREMENTS:
Steam generator (Copper Vessel), Round bottom flask (500 ml), Conical
flask, Condenser, Glass tubes, Iron stand, Sand bath, Separatory funnel,
Tripod stands, Burners, Saunf (Aniseed), Ajwain (Carom), Cardamom
(Elaichi) Petroleum ether(60-80°C).

PROCEDURE:

>Set the apparatus as shown in the picture of Experimental Setup.

>The apparatus consists of a steam generator connected to the round
bottom flask through a glass inlet tube. The flask is connected to a water
condenser through a glass outlet tube. Condenser is further attached to a
receiver through an adaptor.
>Take about 750 ml of water in the steam generator and start heating to
produce steam. In the round bottom flask take about 75 gm of crushed
saunf. A vigorous current of steam from steam generator is passed through
the round bottom flask.
>A part of the steam condenses in the round bottom flask. As more and
more steam is passed, the steam volatile components of saunf pass
through the condenser along with steam. These contents on condensation
are collected in the receiver.
>The contents in the round bottom flask may be heated by a bunsen burner
to prevent excessive condensation of steam.

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>The process of steam distillation is continued for about half an hour.
>Transfer the distillate to a separating funnel and extract with 20 ml
portions of petroleum ether 3 times.
>Combine the petroleum ether extracts in a 250 ml conical flask and dry it
with the help of anhydrous sodium sulphate.
>Remove the solvent from the dried filtrate by careful distillation in a water
bath.

The essential oil is left behind in the distillation flask.

>Find the weight of the extracted essential oil.
>Note the colour, odour and weight of the essential oil.

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OBSERVATION:
1.SAUNF(ANISEED):
• Weight of Saunf taken: 100 gm
• Initial weight of the bottle: 10 gm(x)
• Weight of Bottle + Essential Oil: 11.25gm(y)
• Weight of essential oil extracted: (y-x) :1.25 gm
• Percentage of Essential Oil: (y/100) *100 : 1.25%
• Colour of the Oil: Colourless
• Odour of the Oil: Saunf like smell

2.AJWAIN(CAROM):
• Weight of Ajwain taken: 75 gm
• Initial weight of the bottle: 10 gm (x)
• Weight of Bottle + Essential Oil: 11 gm (y)
• Weight of essential oil extracted: (y-x): 1 gm
• Percentage of Essential Oil: (y/100) *100 : 1.33%
• Colour of the Oil: Colourless
• Odour of the Oil: Ajwain like smell

2.CARDAMOM(ELAICHI):
• Weight of Cardamom taken: 100 gm
• Initial weight of the bottle: 10 gm (x)
• Weight of Bottle + Essential Oil: 11.25 gm (y)
• Weight of essential oil extracted: (y-x) : 1.25 gm
• Percentage of Essential Oil: (y/100) *100 : 1.25%
• Colour of the Oil: Colourless
• Odour of the Oil: Elaichi like smell
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RESULT:

Essential Oils present in aniseed, carom and cardamom are

extracted from Steam Distillation method.

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CONCLUSION:

>Essential oils smell great, reduce stress, treat fungal infections, and help
you sleep. They are concentrated extractions from plants. A process
called distillation turns the "essence of a plant into a liquefied form for
many medicinal and recreational uses.

>Essential oils have many uses outside of aromatherapy. Many people

use them to scent their homes or freshen up things like laundry. They are
also used as a natural scent in homemade cosmetics and highquality
natural products.

>Essential oils enter the body primarily in three ways-applied to the skin,
inhaled, or ingested. Within each of these, there are many different kinds
of application methods. For example, you can apply essential oils
topically using compresses, sprays, baths, or massaging them into the
skin.

>Other most Essential Oils are Lavender (Lavandula officinalis),

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia),
Lemon (Citrus limonum), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Eucalyptus
(Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus sideroxylon and Eucalyptus torquata),
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis),
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii), Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha),
Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), Oregano (Origanum vulgare) and Ginger
(Zingiber officinale)

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