Extraction of Essential Oil from Star Anise

Date: March 27, 2023 Categories: Knowledge Views: 608

The extraction of essential oil from star anise utilizes the property of volatility, allowing it to be distilled with steam. The dry fruits of star anise can contain 5-8% essential oil, which includes compounds such as anethole, methyl eugenol, aldehyde, and others. The primary component, anethole, accounts for about 80-90% of the total essential oil. Anethole is a white crystalline substance with a melting point of 21.4°C, soluble in benzene, ethyl acetate, acetone, carbon disulfide, and petroleum ether, but nearly insoluble in water.

Materials and Equipment:

  • Equipment: Steam distillation apparatus, small round-bottom flask, separatory funnel
  • Chemicals: Star anise, water, sodium chloride

Procedure:

For the extraction of essential oil, weigh an appropriate amount of star anise coarse powder (with an oil content of about 1%, approximately 200-250g). Place it in the distillation flask, add sufficient water to soak, set up the steam distillation apparatus, heat, and pass steam for distillation. Collect the distillate until the distillate is no longer cloudy or aromatic, then stop the distillation.

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