How are Essential Oils Produced?...Pt.2
The steam carries the oil droplets to a condensing chamber where the steam is cooled, changing it to water. The oil can be removed from the water as in the other processes. The cold pressing or expression process is as its name suggests. The plant material usually a fruit or the peel of the fruit are compressed to remove the oil. The oil is then separated from the liquid by high speed rotation. Carbon dioxide extraction uses the unique properties of carbon dioxide both liquid and gas to the advantage of the Essential oil production process. It is this method that allows for the extraction of the “truest to nature” Essential oils. Liquid carbon dioxide is used as a solvent to extract the Essential oil from the plant material. Liquid carbon dioxide changes to a gas when the pressure is decreased. This then leaves only the Essential oil, since the carbon dioxide is now a gas (no residual solvent with the oil). Solvent extraction uses liquids that evaporate easily at low pressures similar to carbon dioxide extraction process. The solvent is mixed with the plant material usually flower petals. The solvent dissolves the Essential oil and then this solution is filtered. The solvent is evaporated at decreased pressure. The residual compound is called a concrete. The concrete still has insoluble vegetable wax with the Essential oil.This product is further processed by solvents and freezing to separate out the waxes. Remaining solvents are removed through a vacuum process that does not require heat.