title: Microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity, a new technique for extraction of essential oils.
abstract: A new process design and operation for the extraction of essential oils was developed. Microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity (MHG) is a combination of microwaves for hydrodiffusion of essential oils from the inside to the exterior of biological material and earth gravity to collect and separate. MHG is performed at atmospheric pressure without adding any solvent or water. MHG has been compared with a conventional technique, hydrodistillation (HD), for the extraction of essential oil from two aromatic herbs: spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) and pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) belonging to the Labiatae family. The essential oils extracted by MHG for 15 min were quantitatively (yield) and qualitatively (aromatic profile) similar to those obtained by conventional hydrodistillation for 90 min. MHG also prevents pollution through potential 90% of energy saved which can lead to greenhouse gas emission benefits.
authors.affiliation: Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, UMR A 408 INRA - UAPV, Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale, F-84029 Avignon, France. maryline.vian@univ-avignon.fr <maryline.vian@univ-avignon.fr>
authors.forename: Maryline Abert
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vian
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Visinoni
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chemat
mesh_terms: D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004058:Diffusion; D006112:Gravitation; D027541:Mentha / Q000737:chemistry; D008872:Microwaves; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile