Extraction of Essential Oils from Vietnam’s Orange (Citrus sinensis) Peels by Hydrodistillation: Modeling and Process Optimization

Abstract

In this study, extraction of essential oil from orange peels was investigated by hydrodistillation method and combine technology software to optimize the process. By using the response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken surface statistical design, the effect of parameters such as water-to-material ratio (2-4 mL/g), extraction time (45-75 min), and temperature (120-140 ºC) on the extraction of essential oil process from orange (Citrus sinensis) peels was examined . All factors were significantly affected to the extraction yield of essential orange peel oil. Optimum conditions for extraction oil yield including the ratio of water to material, temperature, extraction time achieved 3.19 mL/g, 130.08 ºC, 74.31 min, respectively. Below the optimal extraction condition, the maximum yield of orange oil of 3.21 % was obtained. Using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), the results revealed that the essential orange peels oil is extremely rich in limonene (98.343 %).