essential oil

The transesterification is a method commonly used in the production of biodiesel. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate interesterification reaction of palm oil with methyl acetate using essential oil biocatalyst, specifically focusing on eugenol and cajuput oil. The operating parameters were: 250 g of palm oil, a molar ratio of palm oil:methyl acetate of 1:6, a reaction temperature of 60ºC, a stirring speed of 300 rpm, a biocatalyst of 0.75 wt. % in relation to oil, and reaction times of 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 min.

The chemical composition of essential oil obtained by hydro-distillation with 2.10±0.09 % yield from dried Globularia alypum L. leaves was analyzed by GC-MS. It was determined 60 components representing 99.04 % of total oil. For the evaluation of the mentioned antioxidant activity, three different approaches were performed: the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, b-carotene bleaching (BCB) test systems and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP).The antioxidant was compared with that of synthetic antioxidant ascorbic acid.

Solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) is proposed as a method for “green” extraction of edible essential oils extensively used in the fragrance, flavour, and pharmaceutical industries and also in aromatherapy. It is a combination of microwave heating and dry distillation, performed at atmospheric pressure without adding any solvent or water. Isolation and concentration of volatile compounds are performed by a single stage. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) was extracted with SFME at atmospheric pressure and 373 K for 30 min.