Extraction technology and lemon oil composition

The influence of the extraction technology on cold-pressed lemon essential oil composition was studied. The volatile and oxygen heterocyclic fractions of cold-pressed lemon essential oils were studied by HRGC, HRGC/MS and nor mal-phase HPLC. The genuine lemon oils were obtained in the 1997/98 season using the following industrial machines: "Pelatrice", "Sfumatrice", "FMC" a nd "Torchi". Sixty-four compounds were identified and quantified. Limonene was the main compound. In the oxygen heterocyclic fraction two coumarins (5 -geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin, citropten) and five psoralens (bergamottin, 8-geranyloxypsoralen, oxypeucedanin. byakan-gelicol, 5-isopent-2'-enyloxy-8 -(2',3'-epoxyisopentyloxy)psoralen were identified and quantified. Bergamot tin and 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin were the main compounds. It was foun d that the technology does not influence the qualitative composition of the oil but there were quantitative differences. "FMC" produced an oil with ol factory notes and a quantitative composition similar to "Sfumatrice" oil, c onsidered the best quality oil. "Pelatrice" oils gave the highest amount of volatile oxygenated compounds as well as coumarins and psoralens.