Process Intensification in Perfumery Use of Ultrasound and Microwave

Abstract

The utilization of essential oils spans various industries, encompassing food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The first part of the research work proposed in this thesis aimed to optimize the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of essential oil from lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) by exploring the effect of microwave power and extraction time on the yield and quality of the oil. The results indicated that the highest yield and best quality of essential oil were obtained at a microwave power of 700 Watts and an extraction time of 50 to 100 minutes is optimum. The second objective of this thesis was to explore a novel approach to extracting essential oil from lemongrass by employing ultrasonic sparger-based microwave-assisted extraction (U Sp-MAE) coupled with ultrasound sonicator pre-treatment. The findings revealed that the application of the U Sp-MAE technique, combined with ultrasound sonicator pretreatment, resulted in a significant increase in lemongrass essential oil yield. At a mixing ratio of 80 grams of chopped lemon- grass per 500 ml of deionized water, a remarkable yield of 1.87 % was achieved with a Liebig condenser. This second study demonstrates the potential of the U Sp-MAE technique, with ultrasound sonicator pretreatment, as a promising and efficient method for extracting essential oil from lemongrass. Furthermore, its potential applications extend to industrial settings, offering new avenues for utilization. Then we presented a groundbreaking achievement in essential oil extraction, showcasing the development of a highly efficient tri-spiral Condenser for use in microwave-assisted extraction newline(MAE) setups. This innovative condenser is specifically designed to swiftly cool vapors, optimizing oil yield during the MAE process. Our investigations demonstrate a notable improvement in oil purity, attributed to the expedited condensation facilitated by the tri-spiral design. Traditional heat exchangers, like the Liebig condenser, fall short of efficiently handling the high vapor production rates of MAE