The effect of moisture content on essential oil extraction of sweet orange peel (Citrus Aurantium L.) using steam distillation method

The aim of this study was to compare the yield and quality of citrus oil obtained from sweet orange peel (Citrus Aurantium L.) in both fresh and dried conditions using the steam distillation method. Raw materials weighing 200, 300, and 400 grams were used in the experiment, with steam distillation conducted for 7 hours at a temperature of approximately 100°C and atmospheric pressure. The moisture content of fresh materials was over 67%, while materials dried for 12 hours in an oven had a moisture content of around 55%, and those dried for 24 hours had a moisture content of around 43%. The study analyzed the oil components, particularly the percentage of limonene, using GC-MS. The results of the study showed that the drying pre-treatment significantly affected the yield of citrus oil obtained. The yield of sweet orange peel oil increased with the pre-treatment, with values ranging from 0.58% to 0.62% for materials with a moisture content of 67%, 0.59% to 1.05% for materials with a moisture content of 55%, and 0.65% to 0.88% for materials with a moisture content of 43%. Additionally, the quality of the orange peel oil increased along with the pre-treatment with oven drying, with the percentage of limonene in sweet orange peel oil for moisture content of 67%, 55%, and 43% being 93.39%, 97.57%, and 95.32%, respectively.