A Simple and Inexpensive Steam Generator for Essential Oils Extraction
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In the course of our laboratory classes to first year organic chemistry students have steam distillation of essential oils from several local plants to illustrate this
method of isolation of natural products. The steam generators are usually expensive and troublesome (easily get clogged working in hard water) and always are the major problem in this kind of experiment. We designed an apparatus for essential oils extractions that is easily made with inexpensive materials and requires no special installation of steam lines, and is much more efficient than the normal “steam generators” assembled with glassware because it is not necessary to heat the flask (B), carrying the organic material, in order to prevent condensation of water. The steam generator (part A) is made with a 4-1 aluminum pan. In the lid is soldered two Y^ft aluminum tubes, one is 1 in. from the bottom of the pan (charging tube), and the second one is soldered in the lid and is the steam tube. The generator is filled with distilled water (2.5 1) through the charging tube which also serves as a pressure valve. In a few minutes steam is produced and usually the extraction is completed in about 1 hr. The essential oils extracted accumulate on the top of the buret, and the excess of water drops in the flask C.
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Departamento de Quimica Organica Universidade Federal do Ceara Fortaleza—Ceara—Brasil
652 / Journal of Chemical Education
e
Inorganica
Afranio A. Craveiro F. J. A. Matos J. W. de Alencar
