Essential oils are the chemical compounds present in spices which are responsible for giving aroma and flavor to the spices. These are very much volatile and get released on slight heating or powdering of spices. These essential oils have wide applications individually, hence, these are extracted from spices using different methods of extractions. The commonly used methods of extractions in the industries are:
Steam Distillation: It is one of the most popular and expensive method of extraction. In this method the spices are put in a water and heated the water is heated. Due to the increased heating the essential oils from the spices are released and and are evaporated as steam. This steam is collected in a tank with the help of a pipe and is condensed further to come out as an oil.
Water Distillation: In this method, the spices are put in the hot water, which makes it a mixture of water and essential oils. This soup is used as spice extract.
Solvent Extraction: This is the safest method of extracting high quality spice extracts. In this method, the spices are washed with suitable solvents, like alcohol which are capable of dissolving the aromatic oils, non aromatic waxes of spices in them. This solvent solution is subjected to low pressure distillation and the oil is extracted.
Carbondioxide Extraction: In this method the carbondioxide is injected in to the tank having spices. Due to the high pressure inside the tank, carbondioxide changes itself in to liquid form and combines with the aromatic oils in the spices. On lessening the pressure, the carbondioxide returns to its gaseous form leaving the oils.
The above methods are used for spices depending upon the part of the plant used in extraction and the type of essential oil it has. These essential oils extracted in this way are sold in the market and they wide usage in different fields.
Steam Distillation: It is one of the most popular and expensive method of extraction. In this method the spices are put in a water and heated the water is heated. Due to the increased heating the essential oils from the spices are released and and are evaporated as steam. This steam is collected in a tank with the help of a pipe and is condensed further to come out as an oil.
Water Distillation: In this method, the spices are put in the hot water, which makes it a mixture of water and essential oils. This soup is used as spice extract.
Solvent Extraction: This is the safest method of extracting high quality spice extracts. In this method, the spices are washed with suitable solvents, like alcohol which are capable of dissolving the aromatic oils, non aromatic waxes of spices in them. This solvent solution is subjected to low pressure distillation and the oil is extracted.
Carbondioxide Extraction: In this method the carbondioxide is injected in to the tank having spices. Due to the high pressure inside the tank, carbondioxide changes itself in to liquid form and combines with the aromatic oils in the spices. On lessening the pressure, the carbondioxide returns to its gaseous form leaving the oils.
The above methods are used for spices depending upon the part of the plant used in extraction and the type of essential oil it has. These essential oils extracted in this way are sold in the market and they wide usage in different fields.
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