MODELING OF ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTION PROCESS: APPLICATION FOR ORANGE, POMELO, AND LEMONGRASS
ABSTRACT - HCTN - 44In this study, the kinetic models of steam distillation of orange (Citrus Sinensis (L.) Osbeck), pomelo (Citrus grandis L.), and lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) for the recovery of essential oils were developed. The model parameters were estimated based on experimental data and comprehensive kinetic mechanisms of the solid-liquid extraction process. Numerical results showed that, the extraction mechanism of the three materials were best fit to the Patricelli two-stage model in which the diffusion of the oil was followed by the washing step. Moreover, the model parameters obtained from the measured data reflected clearly the nature of the two-stage extraction at which the kinetic rate of the washing step (surface extraction) was higher than that of in-tissue diffusion step. Thus, the kinetics of the extraction processes obtained from the present work could be used for the scale-up of the extraction process operating at a large scale and for the purpose of process control as well.