摘要 |
A process for the manufacture of essential oils from a mixture containing a hydrophilic phase and essential oils. Such as a mixture produced by steam distillation. The process involves contacting said mixture with a hydrophobic adsorbent and subsequent desorption and recovery of the essential oils. The adsorbent may be silica, polystyrene, activated carbon, etc which may be provided in a column such that desorption is effected as a chromatographic separation of the essential oil. The mixture may comprise a solution or a two-phase mixture. If steam distillation is used, the steam may be recycled through the apparatus in a continuous process. |