I am extracting clove essential oil with Clavenger hydrodestilation. As can be seen in attachment the oil is accumulating the bottom of bottle. Is it oil or something else? How can I extract it?
Please help. Thank you.
Dear Furkan,
When I am looking for the specific gravity / density of an essential oil, I have found the Sigma website very helpful. See clip below. Therefore, yes, that is your essential oil layer at the bottom of your container. Pipet it out or use a separatory funnel, & Enjoy!
biological source (Eugenia spp.)
grade Certified organic (NOP)
Halal
Kosher
density
1.04 g/mL at 25 °C
Yes, density of this oil is greater than of the water. The water layer above the oil is also contains oil, so you can separate oil and water by separating funnel, and then extract traces of oil from water by solvent!
It looks like oil only. As density is greater than water, naturally it will be at bottom. Separatory funnel is most suitable for its collection. As it gets darken in presence of open air, it should be stored in air tight container.
Thank you all for helpfull answers. Now, I am sure it is oil.
ISO has Standards for 3 clove oils: bud (ISO 3142), stem (ISO 3143) and leaf (ISO 3141) all of which are rich in eugenol which is heavier than water. The specific gravities of the oils are 1.04 - 1.05, 1.041 - 1.049 and 1.039 - 1.049 respectively hence there is no doubt that your oil is at the bottom of the bottle, no matter which plant part you are distilling.
I agree with all the comments mentioned, I would like to add that this character of the eugenol constituent of clove buds, can be used to differentiate between fresh and old clove buds where fresh buds rich in eugenol, sink down in a glass of water, while the old buds with less eugenol content float in water.
The first fraction of Syzygium aromaticum swims on the water because of the first destillated sequiterpenes, which have a density of 0,905. The later fraction contains eugenole, which have a density from 1,071 to 1,074. The mixture of both have a density from 1,039 to 1,065. The density descibes the quality of the oil.
Clove oil is heavier than water (specific gravity is about 1.06) due to the high content of Eugenol (80-90%). Hydrodestillation of Clove oil needs a Clavenger apparatus designed for oils heavier than water.
clove oil (mostly eugenol, about 80-90%) is denser than water, hence you can see it settle at the bottom of the container. Since it chiefly contain eugenol (of density 1.06g/ml), it happens that the oil be found at the bottom.... you can recover the oil with separation techniques. Ian contribution above has help to with densities various parts of clove oil.
yes ofcourse this is the oil of clove as the oil of clove one of the exceptions of oil it is heavier than water and that's why you see it at the bottom :)
Oil of clove is heavier than water , due to its high content of eugenol, as said before, this character of the oil, can be used to differentiate the fresh clove buds from the old or exhausted ones, by placing the buds in water, when sinking down indicate fresh buds.
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