Aromatherapy Essential Oil Extraction Methods 2

Question 1

What does 'rectification' mean in the context of essential oil production?

Accepted Answer

Re-distilling an essential oil to remove unwanted or hazardous components

Answer

Rectification is the process of re-distilling an essential oil to remove undesirable components, such as the removal of certain camphor fractions for safety reasons.

Question 2

Which extraction method produces a 'concrete' as an intermediate product before yielding an absolute?

Accepted Answer

Solvent extraction

Answer

Solvent extraction first produces a concrete (a waxy semi-solid mixture of waxes and aromatic compounds), which is then washed with alcohol to yield an absolute.

Question 3

Rose essential oil produced by steam distillation is commercially known as:

Accepted Answer

Rose otto (attar of roses)

Answer

Rose essential oil obtained by steam distillation is called rose otto or attar of roses, distinguishing it from rose absolute which is produced by solvent extraction.

Question 4

What is the primary advantage of CO2 supercritical extraction over conventional steam distillation?

Accepted Answer

It extracts at lower temperatures, preserving heat-sensitive aromatic compounds

Answer

CO2 supercritical extraction operates at lower temperatures than steam distillation, preserving heat-sensitive compounds and producing an extract truer to the original plant's natural chemistry.

Question 5

Which solvent is most commonly used in the first stage of solvent extraction of aromatic plant material?

Accepted Answer

Hexane

Answer

Hexane is a common hydrocarbon solvent used to dissolve aromatic compounds from plant material in solvent extraction, after which it is removed to leave a concrete.

Aromatherapy Practice Test

Aromatherapy Practice Test

Aromatherapy Essential Oil Extraction Methods 2