Extraction method of plant essential oil

The common extraction methods of plant essential oil include steam distillation, freeze compression (squeezing), chemical solvent extraction, oil separation (liposuction), carbon dioxide extraction and soaking. Distillation is the most commonly used method to extract aromatic plant essential oil, and 95% of aromatic plant essential oil is extracted by distillation.

Extended data:

Distillation can be said to be the oldest and most widely used method to extract essential oil. The treatment procedure includes heating plants with water or steam (or both) in a distillation vessel to discharge steam, thus making a concentrated solution.

The liquid produced by the above process is mixed with oil and water. Usually, oil floats on water, so water is heavier than oil. If oil is heavier than water (such as clove oil), the oil will sink to the bottom. At this time, oil and water can be easily separated.

The dimensions of distillation vessels vary greatly. Small distillers are more common in small producers in mountainous areas, while large distillers can be installed on car platforms. The big ones are common in American mint producing areas, and the bigger ones appear in Grass, France or Longmeifu, England.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia _ Plant Essential Oil