Extraction of Essential Oil from Laurel Leaves by Using Microwaves

Abstract

The effects of microwave power and time in solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) on the yield and composition of the essential oil obtained from laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) leaves were studied. The extraction was also performed by hydrodistillation as a control. Specific gravities and refractive indices of the essential oils obtained by different methods and at various conditions were also examined. The main constituent of laurel essential oil was 1,8-cineole (630–730 mg/mL). Essential oils obtained by SFME and hydrodistillation were comparable with respect to both yield and composition while the process time was reduced by 55–60% when SFME was used.

Keywords:

• Aroma compounds
• essential oil
• Laurus nobilis L
• solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

TUBITAK (The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey) is greatly acknowledged for supporting this project (Grant No: TOVAG 104O265). Dried laurel leaves were provided by Kütaş (Kütaş Tarim Ürünleri Diş Tic. San. A.Ş., İzmir, Turkey).

Notes

^a Retention time in min on HP-5MS column obtained by MSD

^b Retention time in min on HP-5MS column obtained by FID.

∗Means physical properties with different letters within each row are significantly different, p ≤ 0.05.