Question

Expriment extraction of limonene from orange peel by steam distillation

the recovery % was low and the IR there was not c=c while there was c=o ,so what is possible error and how to improve the expriment ?

Answer 1

First of all the amount of lemonene ( a hydrocarbon classed as terpene) content depends on season and orange variety and the life of limonene is about 8-10 months, as it slowly decomposes due to arial oxidation.However the most common and possible cause for less amount of % recovery and absence C=C may be the decrease in water and no further addition of water during distillation or the water was taken too less that the sugar burnt initially. Now as the mixture boils, the water goes on decreasing and as the oranges contain high concentration of sugar, if the water level goes too low, the sugar will carmelize and burn, leading to low yield. This can be avoided by taking 2/3rd water level in the RB and keep it approx same by adding water ocassionally. Moreover the experiment should be done in air tight manner in absence of light to avoid arial oxidation of the olifinic double bonds and decomposition of double bonds.