Fractionation of citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) essential oil and concentrated orange oil phase by batch vacuum distillation

The aim of this work was to assess the performance of a vacuum fractionating column for the fractionation of citronella essential oil and concentrated orange oil phase during batch mode operation at different pressures, from 20 to 1 mbar and reflux ratios from 1:1 to 10:1. Fractions from column top and bottom were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC/FID) using authentic standards of major constituents of the oils. Good fractionation results for citronella essential oil were achieved, affording complete removal of limonene, with a rich citronellal fraction and an output stream constituted mainly by citronellol and geraniol. Likewise, the use of the vacuum fractionation column allowed almost complete removal of limonene (∼0.7 wt% at column bottom) from the orange oil phase at the lowest operating pressure, 1 mbar, while the higher valencene content (20.5 wt%) was obtained at 10 mbar and reflux ratio of 1:1.