Comparison of Ammonia and Water Vapor Steam Distillation for Thin Layer Chromatography of Essential Oils from Rosmarinus Officinalis, Salvia Officinalis, and Lavandula Species

Abstract

Alessandro Careglio Frazione

This study project investigates the extraction of essential oils (E.O.) from lavender, sage, and rosemary using ammonia vapor generated by the reaction of ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, and sodium hydroxide with water vapor. This type of extraction could represent a new way to extract volatile plant compounds, presenting some advantages such as a higher yield and a greater selectivity towards apolar compounds compared to polar ones, such as camphor, which can decrease the sensory properties or eventually thujone due to its toxicity. The essential oils are compared using thin layer chromatography.

For rosemary and lavender, there is a higher yield of essential oil and an improvement in sensory characteristics (subjective opinion).

From the chromatographic analysis, the extraction with ammonia does not show the evident formation of compounds different from the extraction with water, so there should be no risk of potential toxicity. Furthermore, ammonia is not soluble in essential oils and remains in the mother liquors.

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