Microwave-Assisted Hydrodistillation of Aquilaria Subintegra

Astri Fadhilah Abdul Rahim; Norafiqah Jamaluddin; Atikah Kadri; Norazah  Abd Rahman; Siti Shawalliah Idris

Authors

Astri Fadhilah Abdul Rahim Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Norafiqah Jamaluddin Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Atikah Kadri Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Norazah Abd Rahman Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Siti Shawalliah Idris Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Agarwood, essential oil, GC-MS, microwave-assisted hydrodistillation, extraction

Abstract

Alternative extraction method by using the microwave-assisted hyrodistillation (MAHD) method is used to extract essential oil from agarwood. The effect of microwave power of 300, 400, 600, and 800 watt (W) and irradiation time of 5 hours on the extraction of agarwood essential oil were studied. The quality of the oil and the identification of its compounds were further analysed using GC-MS. The highest yield obtained from MAHD is at 600 W which is 0.13 %, while the yield for HD is 0.135 %. At 600 W, the time required for the sample to boil is within 20 – 25 minutes and oil started to produce within 15 – 20 minutes after boiling. Two compounds commonly identified in the extracted oil includes 6-Octen-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-,propanoate or knowns as Citronellyl propionate which have a floral scent and Azulene,1,2,3,3a,4,5,6,7- octahydro-1,4-dimethyl-7(gurjunene) or γ-Gurjunene which have a musty-woody odour. The experimental results show a shorter operation time and a higher yield result from higher extraction rates for MAHD which is equivalent to 7 hours HD extraction.