Optimization of Hydrodistillation of Rosemary Essential Oil
Extraction of essential oil from Algerian rosemary leaves is carried out by means of a hydro-distillation process. The important operating parameters such as extraction time, condensation flow rate and water/solid plant material ratio, have been investigated. The highest yield value was 1.92% and was obtained for a water/plant ratio, a condensate flowrate, and extraction time of 20, 4.51ml/min and 120 min, respectively. The essential oil components have been identified using the GCMS analysis which show camphor as the major ingredient, followed by camphene, α-pinene and 1,8-cineole. The results have been compared with those obtained using a supercritical carbon dioxide extraction process, which has shown to be more much better quantitatively and qualitatively.