The extraction of essential oils from patchouli leaves (Pogostemon cablin Benth) using a microwave air-hydrodistillation method as a new green technique

Nowadays, patchouli oil extraction in Indonesia is generally carried out using conventional methods, although such methods require large amounts of energy, solvents in significant amounts, and quite a long time. Therefore, in this study, patchouli oil extraction was done using a microwave hydrodistillation method. In addition to optimizing the extraction process of patchouli oil, this study used a development of the microwave hydrodistillation method, microwave air-hydrodistillation. Based on this research, it can be seen that patchouli oil extraction using the microwave air-hydrodistillation method is faster, produces a better yield and a higher accumulation of recovery than extraction using the standard microwave hydrodistillation method. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the composition of the compounds in the patchouli oils shows that the heavy fraction components obtained by microwave air-hydrodistillation are more numerous than those obtained using the microwave hydrodistillation method. Furthermore, an analysis of the electric consumption and the environmental impact of the microwave air-hydrodistillation method for patchouli oil extraction indicates that this method can be considered a new green technique.