Scott Humason
Chem 241: MWF: 8:30-9:50
Liquid CO2 Extraction of Limonene from Orange Peel
Brief Summary of Experiment:
The goal of this experiment is to extract D-Limonene from an orange peel using supercritical CO2. Obtain 2.5 grams of ground orange peel from the most orange part of the orange peel. Build an apparatus to suspend the ground orange peel from the bottom of a chamfered tube. Pack the orange peel filled tube with CO2 ice, cap it and submerge in warm water. If the seal hold, then the pressure will turn the evaporating CO2 gas into a liquid. The liquid will descend through the orange peel, removing oil along its path and deliver it to the bottom of the tube. When the "boiling" is done, removing the cap will allow the CO2 to escape as a gas and leave only the oil. With this oil, we will gather data about the percent yield.
Discussion of Results:
Amount of Essential Oil Collected
Actual Grams of Product Collected = .029g
Percent Yield of Essential Oil Collected
grams of product collected .029g
-------------------------------- = ------------ = .01147 x 100 = 1.1417%
grams of starting material 2.2582g
Analysis of Error and Quality of Experiment:
The biggest challenge to this experiment was keeping the CO2 contained during it's transition state from solid to a liquid. If there was a leak in the vessel the solid would easily escape as a gas, however, if is was pressurized enough, cold liquid would form and extract the oil very quickly. I feel that the results are very reliable, considering that the product is very pure. In addition, because the oil didn't get heated, there was no worry about oxidization, a common issue with oil.
Evaluation of Experiment in terms of Greenness:
This experiment highlighted a very low impact process of extracting oils. This process involved no toxic materials - outside of the plastic used as containers. The most detrimental step was the energy used to convert gaseous CO2 into liquid CO2.
In comparison to Steam Distillation:
The steam distillation experiment was a much more labor intensive and time intensive project. It is difficult to say which one was more efficient at producing more or better product, however, working with the resulting product was the clear marker of difference. With the steam distillation method, the oil was suspended in water and was extremely difficult separate and stuck to the separating equipment. However, with the CO2 process, the oil was all by itself, making for a much smoother and cleaner process.
The biggest challenge to this experiment was keeping the CO2 contained during it's transition state from solid to a liquid. If there was a leak in the vessel the solid would easily escape as a gas, however, if is was pressurized enough, cold liquid would form and extract the oil very quickly. I feel that the results are very reliable, considering that the product is very pure. In addition, because the oil didn't get heated, there was no worry about oxidization, a common issue with oil.
Evaluation of Experiment in terms of Greenness:
This experiment highlighted a very low impact process of extracting oils. This process involved no toxic materials - outside of the plastic used as containers. The most detrimental step was the energy used to convert gaseous CO2 into liquid CO2.
In comparison to Steam Distillation:
The steam distillation experiment was a much more labor intensive and time intensive project. It is difficult to say which one was more efficient at producing more or better product, however, working with the resulting product was the clear marker of difference. With the steam distillation method, the oil was suspended in water and was extremely difficult separate and stuck to the separating equipment. However, with the CO2 process, the oil was all by itself, making for a much smoother and cleaner process.
No comments:
Post a Comment