INVESTIGATORY PROJECT ON :-

Extraction of essential oils present in

Saunf(Aniseed), Ajwain(Carom) and
Elaichi(Cardamom)

 Submitted By- Sitanshu Sadwal

 Guided by: Mrs.Archana Ma’am
 2024-25
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this “CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT on the topic “Extraction of essential oils
present in Saunf(Aniseed), Ajwain(Carom) and
Elaichi(Cardamom)” has been successfully completed by
Sitanshu Sadwal of class – XII A under the guidance of
Mrs. Archana Ma’am.
In particular fulfilment of the curriculum of CBSE leading
to the award of annual examination of the year 2024-25
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere thank to our
chemistry teacher for his guidance and support in
completing my project.
I would like to extend my gratitude to our Principal
Sir for providing us with all the facilities that were
required.
I would also like to thanks my parents and friends
who helped me with the necessary suggestion and
ideas for completing this project.

Name- Sitanshu Sadwal

Roll No-27
 Index
Sl.No Topic Pg.No
1 Certificate

2 Acknowledgement
3 Index
4 Aim
5 Introduction

6 Theory
7 Aniseed plant
8 Requirements
9 Procedure
10 Experimental set up
11 Observations
12 Result

13 Bibliography
Aim of the Experiment
Extraction of essential oils
present in Saunf(Aniseed),
Ajwain(Carom) and
Elaichi(Cardamom)
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 oil get their odours 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 flavours .
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 still important in certain industrial sectors. Steam
distillation is one of ancient and official approved methods for isolation of essential oils
from plant materials. The plant materials charged in the alembic are subjected to the
steam without maceration in water. 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. The system
yields a mixture of a vapour and desired essential oil. 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.
 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 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.
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
1. Set the apparatus as shown in the picture of Experimental Setup.

2. 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.

3. Take about 750 ml of water in the steam generator and start heating to produce steam.

4. In the round bottom flask take about 75 gm of crushed saunf.

5. A vigorous current of steam from steam generator is passed through the round bottom flask.

6. 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.

7. The contents in the round bottom flask may be heated by a bunsen burner to prevent excessive condensation of steam.

8. The process of steam distillation is continued for about half an hour.

9. Transfer the distillate to a separating funnel and extract with 20 ml portions of petroleum ether 3 times.

10. Combine the petroleum ether extracts in a 250 ml conical flask and dry it with the help of anhydrous sodium sulphate.

11. Remove the solvent from the dried filtrate by careful distillation in a water bath.
 OBSERVATION
1.) Saunf (Aniseed):-

• Weight of Saunf taken= 100 gm

• Initial Weight of the bottle = 10gm(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 = 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/75)*100=1.33%
3) Cardamom(Elaichi):- • Colour of the oil= Colourless
• Odour of the oil = Ajwain like smell.
• Weight of elaichi 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 = elaichi like smell.
 RESULT
Essential oils present in aniseed, carom and cardamom
are extracted from Steam distillation method.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anise
 http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-
oils/aniseed.htm
 http://www.ajbasweb.com/old/ajbas/20
16/November/117-127.pdf
 https://in.iherb.com/blog/top-13-
essential-oils-and-how-they-can-
benefit-your-health/236