Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Mary Zoeller, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Mary Zoeller
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Engineering
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Jenny Vu
Abstract
Steam distillation was performed to extract essential oil from lavender and analyze its chemical composition. Lavender is known to contain several compounds such as linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, which contribute to its characteristic aroma and biological activity. The purpose of this experiment was to isolate these compounds without decomposition and identify them using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Approximately 14.851 g of lavender was heated with water to generate steam, which carried the volatile compounds into a condenser where the vapor was cooled and collected. The distillate was transferred to a separatory funnel to isolate the organic layer from the aqueous phase. A total of 1.886 g of essential oil was obtained, corresponding to a percent yield of 12.7%. The moderate yield suggests some loss during transfer or incomplete extraction.GC-MS analysis showed multiple peaks between approximately 5.0 and 6.4 minutes, indicating a mixture of compounds. The mass spectra confirmed the presence of linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, with molecular ion peaks observed at m/z 154 and m/z 196. These compounds contain functional groups including alcohols, alkenes, and esters, which are consistent with their fragmentation patterns. Lavender essential oil is widely used in aromatherapy and medicinal applications due to its calming effects, as well as its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (Kajjari et al., 2022). Overall, the results demonstrate that steam distillation is an effective method for isolating essential oils from plant material while preserving their chemical structure.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Analytical Chemistry Commons, Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy Commons, Organic Chemistry Commons
Production and Analysis of Lavender Essential Oil: Extraction, Composition, and Applications
Steam distillation was performed to extract essential oil from lavender and analyze its chemical composition. Lavender is known to contain several compounds such as linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, which contribute to its characteristic aroma and biological activity. The purpose of this experiment was to isolate these compounds without decomposition and identify them using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Approximately 14.851 g of lavender was heated with water to generate steam, which carried the volatile compounds into a condenser where the vapor was cooled and collected. The distillate was transferred to a separatory funnel to isolate the organic layer from the aqueous phase. A total of 1.886 g of essential oil was obtained, corresponding to a percent yield of 12.7%. The moderate yield suggests some loss during transfer or incomplete extraction.GC-MS analysis showed multiple peaks between approximately 5.0 and 6.4 minutes, indicating a mixture of compounds. The mass spectra confirmed the presence of linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, with molecular ion peaks observed at m/z 154 and m/z 196. These compounds contain functional groups including alcohols, alkenes, and esters, which are consistent with their fragmentation patterns. Lavender essential oil is widely used in aromatherapy and medicinal applications due to its calming effects, as well as its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (Kajjari et al., 2022). Overall, the results demonstrate that steam distillation is an effective method for isolating essential oils from plant material while preserving their chemical structure.