The Kinetic Model of Essential Oil Hydrodistillation from Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric is commonly used as a spice, food preservative, coloring agent, and medicine. Turmeric essential oil (EO) is effective in acne treatment, skin lightening, anti-aging, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory. In this study, the kinetic model evaluates variable conditions that affect the hydrodistillation (HD) process. The HD method was chosen because it is easy for industrial-scale applications. The significant HD parameters, including turmeric-water ratio (TWR), heating oil temperature (HOT), and distillation time, were investigated. The highest yield (6.72%) was achieved under the following conditions: the turmeric-water ratio of 1:5, heating oil temperature of 150°C, and distillation time of 4 hours. There have been no studies on the kinetic model of essential oil extraction from turmeric by hydrodistillation. Therefore, three kinetic models were proposed to test for compatibility. The results showed that the two-site desorption model had a better fit than other models. The TWR and HOT had a more significant impact on the cell and tissue alteration of oil glands than the diffusion of essential oil.