Abstract

The experiment was conducted in Processing Department, Food Industries Institute, Industrial Research and Consultancy Centre, Khartoum, Sudan to modify Evaporation Test Method of Essential Oil time from 24 hours as in British Pharmacopeia to 5-50 minutes. Oils extracted from five chosen Sudanese essential oils bearing plants namely Boswellia sp. (Olibanium), Cympobogon citraus (Lemon grass), Mentha spicata (Spearmint), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Camphorl), Cympobogon proximis (Camel’s hay) and one imported Clovebuds (Syzygium aromaticum) by hydro distillation according to British Pharmacopeia. The 6 oils were spotted (2 mg from each) in filtered papers to form greasy spot and enforced to evaporate under air-forced oven at temperatures of 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C and 100°C consequently. The results obtained showed that the volatilization time was decreased with an increase in temperature from 60°C to 100°C. Evaporation time at 60°C was ranging between 30-50 minutes according to the nature of the essential oil. The minimum evaporation time of essential oil was recorded at 100°C range in a period of just 5-15 minutes depending on the oil obtained from different plants. In conclusion under all temperature levels of evaporation the greasy spots of essential oil were disappeared by evaporation and the greasy spot of fixed oil remained.

Keywords

Evaporation test, Essential oil, Olibanium, Lemon grass, Spearmint, Eucalyptus, Clove, Camel’s hay, Cympobogon citraus, Mentha spicata, Boswellia, hydrocarbons, Juniperus virginiana, Amyris balsamifera, Gas chromatograph