02/01/2014
CHM2210L
University of North Florida
Abstract Eugenol is found in the essential oil of cloves and has distinct properties that make it an important product to both food and drug industries. (Bhimrao, et. al, 2004). To utilize many of eugenol’s characteristic properties, it is necessary to isolate this organic chemical from the other components of cloves. In this experiment, eugenol was isolated from a sample of cloves using a series of techniques including steam distillation, solvent extraction, decantation, and evaporation. A simple-steam distillation apparatus was assembled and a mixture of water and cloves distilled to separate the eugenol from other clove components. The use of a solvent, Methylene Chloride was then used to isolate the Eugenol, and then dried using anhydrous sodium sulfate. The Methylene Chloride was then decanted and evaporated yielding the isolated eugenol product. A percentage weight recovery of 3.6% was calculated and compared to an expected recovery of 10%(Wenquiang, et al., 2007). The results suggested possible experimental error, and suggestions for future experiments are considered.
Introduction Eugenol is the primary chemical component comprising the oil of cloves, and has a wide range of uses, ranging from food flavoring to dental pharmaceuticals (Bhimrao, et. al, 2004). Eugenol can be isolated from the clove oil using a series of techniques including steam distillation, the use of a solvent such as methylene chloride, and finally the decantaion and evaporation of that solvent which yields the isolated eugenol.
Steam distillation is a technique used to isolate the eugenol from cloves and avoid decomposition of the product. This is achieved by mixing two immiscible liquids and utilizing a higher vapor pressure, the sum of the two components, and thus a lower boiling point then either of the two components on their own. The steam distillation will produce a
References: Bhimrao J., Khandelwal K., Ketkar A., Sambhaji S. Pisal. (2004) Formulation and Evaluation of Mucoadhesive Tablets Containing Eugenol for the Treatment of Periodontal Diseases. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 30(2), 195-203 Pavia, D. L.; Lampman, G. M.; Kriz, G. S.; Engel, R. G. Introduction to Organic Laboratory Techniques, A Microscale Approach; 4th ed.; Brooks/Cole: Pacific Grove, CA, 2007; 112-119 Wenqiang, G.; Shufen, L.; Ruixiang, Y.; Shaokun, T.; Can, Q. Food Chemistry, 2007, 101, 1558. Steam Distillation. University of Arizona. 2/2/2014. Retrieved from: http://quiz2.chem.arizona.edu/vip/distillation/steam%20distillation.htm