Question

discuss how steam distillation works to extract essential oils?

Answer 1

Steam distillation is a process employed to extract essential oils from organic plants by passing steam generated through the plant material.

Temperature sensitive compounds which would normally decompose through simple distillation vaporise at lower temperatures when subjected to steam in the distillation column.

This allows for the separation of essential oils, which tend to be less soluble in boiling water, from chemically complex materials.

When the steam is passed through the organic material, tiny pockets holding the essential oils open to release the essential oil molecules without doing any damage to these delicate components.

The distillate obtained will contain a mixture of water vapour and essential oils which finally return to their liquid form in the condensing apparatus. Then they are separated using a Florentine separator.
In case of essential oils, using steam allows the distillate to retain the more delicate flavours and aromas which would otherwise breakdown if high temperatures is applied.

This is a great process to extract essential oils from aromatic plants to flavour liqueurs.