INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

ON
Extraction of essential oils
present in Saunf(Aniseed),
Ajwain(Carom) and
Elaichi(Cardamom)

Submitted By-
Shaurya Jain

Guided by: Krishna Kumar Ghoshi

 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 Shaurya Jain of class – XII-Science under the guidance
of Krishna Kumar Ghoshi
Sir in particular fulfilment of the curriculum of CBSE leading to the award of annual
examination of the year 2024-2025

Internal Principal External

Examiner
 Acknowledgement

I would like to express my sincere thank to our

chemistry guide Ms. Bandana Pradhan
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- Shaurya Jain

Roll No-
 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
18 Conclusion
19 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
 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.

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. Cinnamon,
clove, cumin, eucalyptus, garlic, jasmine, peppermint, rose, sandalwood, spearmint, thyme, wintergreen are a few familiar
examples of valuable essential oils. The term “essential oils” literally means “oils derived from the essence” of plants.
Essential oils are mainly used for their pleasant odours and flavors in perfumes and as flavoring agents in foods. Some are
used in medicines (e.g., camphor, wintergreen, eucalyptus) others as insect repellants (e.g., citronella). 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
 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

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 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
 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, trans-
anethole, 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 has aromatherapeutic benefits associated with relieving asthma, colds or sinus symptoms, as
well as quelling nausea and vomiting.
 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.
 Anethole, the principal component of anise oil, is a precursor that can eventually produce 2,5-
dimethoxybenzaldehyde which is can be used in the clandestine synthesis of psychedelic drugs such as 2C-B, 2C-I
and DOB.
 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
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.
•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 distillatio

•Find the weight of the extracted essential oil.
•Note the colour, odour and weight of the esse
EXPERIMENTAL SET UP
 OBSERVATIO
N
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%
•Colour of the oil = Colourless
•Odour of the oil = Ajwain like smell .

3) Cardamom(Elaichi):-
•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.
 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 high-quality 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)
 Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Essential oil is also used externally as an insecticide against small insects such as head lice, mites and vermin. It also has