Short path evaporation for methyl chavicol enrichment from basil essential oil

In this work, the evaluation of methyl chavicol enrichment from basil essential oil was carried out using short path evaporation. The evaluation was performed by experimental design using response surface methodology. Evaporator temperature (from 28 to 112 °C), condenser temperature (from −8.4 to 8.4 °C), and feed flow rate (from 8.3 to 21.7 ml/min) were the studied factors. The results showed that it is possible to increase methyl chavicol concentration up to 89.79% from basil essential oil using a short path evaporator. Process analysis showed that a quadratic model is adequate to describe methyl chavicol concentration using short path evaporation and that evaporator temperature was the unique statistically significant variable of the process. Maximum methyl chavicol concentration was obtained using evaporator temperature at 70 °C.

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► The article evaluates the purification of methyl chavicol by short path evaporation.
► It is possible to increase methyl chavicol concentration using a short path evaporator.
► A quadratic model is adequate to describe methyl chavicol concentration in function of operating conditions.
► Evaporator temperature was the unique statistically significant variable of the process.
► Maximum methyl chavicol concentration was reached at 70 °C and 10 mm Hg.