Comparative extraction of essential oils of Mentha piperita (mint) by steam distillation and enfleurage

The extraction of essential oils is generally carried out by two main techniques: azeotropic distillation (hydrodistillation, hydrodiffusion, and steam distillation) and extraction with solvents. This work consists in studying the two methods of extraction of the essential oils of Mentha piperita: Steam distillation (azeotropic) and Enfleurage (solvent extraction). The optimum yield for the extraction of essential oil via steam distillation from Mentha piperita was obtained at 540 minutes with production coming to an end at 1080 minutes yielding 1.36 % of essential oil at 80 0C per 240 g of sample while extraction through effleurage give maximum yield at 900 minutes with production coming to an end at 1080 minutes. The extraction process recorded a percentage yield of 0.91 % at 80 0C. In view of the above result, it implies that at a given condition the steam distillation method comparatively is a better technique for extraction of essential for optimal production. In addition, the compounds with the highest GC-MS area percentage in the analysis of Mentha piperitta were 1-Decanol, 2-hexyl- (3.8471%) and L-Menthol which also has a high area percentage (3.5439 %) which is of utmost importance as the fragrance of mint oil extract and its peculiar flavour can be attributed to the abundant presence of levo-menthol. Levo-menthol is used for the treatment, control, prevention, and improvement of the following diseases, conditions and symptoms which includes occasional minor irritation, Pain, Sore mouth, Sore throat and Cough. It can be drawn, without doubt, that steam distillation offers significant advantages comparatively over effleurage and can therefore be best suitable for pilot scale extraction of essential oils in Mint.