Potential of Renewable Energies Integration in an Essential Oils Extraction Process

Abstract

This paper presents an essential oil extraction process in accordance with sustainable development and environmental protection. The idea is to use vegetal plant after extraction as a source of energy for steam production and the condensation of steam containing essential oil is ensured by an air-cooled condenser. In this prospect, a biomass burner was designed and its efficiency was evaluated and compared to an electrical heating system. From the experiments it was found that biomass could supply the energy needed to produce steam for essential oil extraction process. The essential oil yield and composition are comparable to those obtained by a classical method using an electrical heating system and a water-cooled condenser. The industrial projection and innovation lays in the integration of renewable energy in existing mobile extraction units by using solid waste as a source of energy for steam production. The condensation of steam containing essential oil can be ensured by an air-cooled condenser with fans powered by photovoltaic solar energy. Possibilities of clean energy integration and water economy in such process unit are the major technological advance in this alternative approach for energy and water savings especially in agro-based industries.