The study is focused on the use of solar energy in
extracting essential oil as alternative process of extracting essential oil. In
particular, it determined the rate of extraction and percent yield at normal
temperature and weather condition. Four kinds of plant samples with known
aromatic characters and pharmaceutical importance, Sambong (Conyza balsamifera Linn), Oregano (Plectranthus
amboinicus, Lour.), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon
citrates) and Roses
(Rosa damascena) were used as
samples. The plant samples were air dried and weighed and then transferred to
the designed solar essential oil extractor. The rate of extraction was measured
in terms of the volume of plant extract per day expressed in ml/day and the
percent yield was measured in terms of the ratio between volume of plant
extracts and the mass of plant samples multiplied by 100%. Results showed that
it is possible to extract essential oil from plants using the sun as source of
energy. The rate of extraction varies with the plant samples with oregano as the fastest (3.4 ml/day) and
rose petals the slowest (1.8 ml/day). The essential oil extraction process can
last for 9 days. The percent yield of plant extracts varies with the kind of
plant samples with sambong (Conyza balsamifera Linn)having the highest percent yield (72%) and rose petals (Rosa damascena) the lowest (18.5%).
Cite this paper
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