CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ESSENTIAL OIL PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

In the present paper information pertaining to sources of various esse ntial oils and their important chemical constituents is presented. The salient features of existing and incoming technologies pertaining to essential oil processing industries are highlighted. It is observed th at water distillation, steam distillation, cohobation, solvent extract ion, maceration and enfleurage are among the most common method. Enfle urage is the oldest among all. Maceration is adaptable in cases where oil yield from distillation is poor. Distillation methods are good for powdered almonds, rose petals, rose blossoms, whereas, extraction is suitable for high priced, delicate and thermally unstable perfumery ma terials like jasmine, tuberose, hyacinth, violet etc. Water distillati on is most favoured method of production of citronella oil from plant material. Super critical fluid extraction and microwave extraction are the most recent and potentially promising methods of production of es sential oils from natural products.