Kinetics of extraction of citrus aurantium essential oil by hydrodistillation: Influence on the yield and the chemical composition

In order to assess the kinetics of extraction citrus aurantium leaves underwent hydrodistillation with a clevenger apparatus. essential oil was collected every 15 minutes during the whole extraction period. yield variation during extraction period revealed an exponential aspect curve with 95% of maximum yield at 150 minutes. sixty one compounds were identified during extraction time. chromatographic analysis showed notable differences between the different petitgrain samples especially for the major components: linalool (29.74-62.43%),α-terpineol (3.04-15.69%) and linalyl acetate (5.64-25.38%). important variations were observed in petitgrain chemical composition according to extraction time and each component presented a specific kinetic according to extraction time. these variations may be the expression of variable chemical and physical phenomena that take place in clevenger hydrodistillation batch.