Analysis of Production of Lippia alba Essential Oil distilled in Steam Stripping Mobile Plant

Abstract

In most of the Guanentá and Comunera provinces (Santander), is located “prontoalivio” (Lippia alba), a semiarbustive plant with high potential for the pharmaceutical industry. Parallel to this, the technique of extraction of essential oils by steam stripping of species such as Lippia alba is suitable for socio-economic contexts of provinces Guanentá and Comunera, where agricultural production takes place mainly in smallholdings. Unfortunately, because of ignorance about the benefits of this plant, its agronomic or industrial potential has not been exploited. The aim of this study was to determine the most suitable drying time and the temperature and pressure conditions for the extraction of essential oil of Lippia alba. For that purpose the Agrotourism Center has one of the fifteen mobile plants for extraction of essential oils, given to SENA nationwide, which was automated in order to control the variables temperature and pressure, finding that the ideal temperature value, above which there would be burning and loss of oil is 110 °C, and should not exceed 10 PSI of pressure. Likewise, it was determined that adequate drying time of plant material at room temperature under shade must not exceed 6 days. It was observed that after such drying times the loss of essential oil yield is progressive while hydrolate yield (product of the distillation) is unaffected, showing significant losses in quality but not quantity of distillate, which is significantly negatively for essential oils producers.