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A Simple, Convenient,
Portable Mini Distillation Apparatus for The Production of
Essential Oils
Details of present/Existing Technology.
Shortfall / Technological gaps in the existing technology
A laboratory equipment used for distillation
of essential oils is called glass Clevenger apparatus attached
with a glass flask for charging the plant material along with
water in 1:2 ratio. The whole system is put on a heating mantle
for distillation of essential oils. There is no provision
of steam distillation in this apparatus. It can not distill
the plant material at reduced nor at higher atmospheric pressure.
The major technological gaps of the apparatus
is that it was designed to distill the plant material by water
distillation at normal atmospheric pressure. Certain aromatic
plants are exclusively distilled by steam distillation than
water distillation, reason being some of volatile constituents
get hydrolysed due to presence of water in the vessel. The
apparatus works neither on the principle of steam distillation
nor on water & steam distillation technique. Moreover,
this apparatus is generally restricted to use in laboratories
only for the essential oil estimation. This system is heated
only with the help of electric mantle. The long vertical glass
tube and condenser are made up of glass which require careful
handling and the heating mode is only by electricity.
Approach adopted in new technology to
evade technological gap in the exiting one
Essential oil distillation units involve
a high capital investment which small growers generally can
not afford at the beginning. Our indigenously designed low
cost apparatus has broken the barriers of high capital investment
in experimenting the new agricultural production system at
initial small scale. This apparatus is designed by our Institute
to meet the needs of small growers, educational institutes
and entrepreneurs in the field of aromatherapy who wish to
start this venture at a small scale and to learn art, skill
and science of essential oil production
Advantages
- The unit is useful for the
distillation of essential oils and perfumed water from a
number of aromatic plants available in our surroundings
such as basil, kari patta, ajowain, eucalyptus, mints, citrus
peels, muskbala, bachh, wild marigold and cultivated aromatic
crops like
- Damask rose, lavender, marigold and
chamomile.
- The plant material can be distilled
at atmospheric pressure and also at higher or lower pressures
with water distillation, steam distillation and water and
steam distillation.
- The unit is portable and can be used
at the field sites where water and power sources are available
and can also run on agrowaste.
- It is useful in household cottage
industry for marginal farmers and housewives.
- It can be used for demonstration,
training and educational purpose in R&D and educational
institutes.
- It can create employment and income
generation for economically backward classes.
- The qualitative and quantitative yields
of essential oils are better than glass Clevenger type apparatus.
- The unit is inexpensive, sturdy and
is a versatile design.
- The unit can be heated with agro waste
on furnace or on LPG burner.
Brief Description
Applications
Cosmetics and Consumer/Household items/Aromatherapy
Industrial and Domestic Machinery & Products.
The unit is useful for mini scale distillation of essential
oils used in aromatherapy. It is also useful for marginal
farmers who can produce oils in small scale.
Status of Development
Design licensed to a private party. Unit
is currently used for distillation of essential oils.
Technology
Transfer Assistance Offered: Know-how
Contact for more information:
Director
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology
Post Box No.6 Palampur
Himachal Pradesh - 176 061
India
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