Optimization of the Yield Extraction of Essential Thyme Oil through Response Surface Method (RSM)

Abstract

The objective of this study is the optimization of the extraction yield of essential Thyme capitatus oil using hydrodistillation Clevenger in order to industrialize the scale and increase the extrapolation possibility. The optimal conditions are determined using central composite designs (CCD). Nine runs were performed by varying the extraction time and the plant material form (i.e. ground and unground). The ratio of the mass/volume was considered constant during the experiments. The optimum yield was obtained for unground form with 1.6078% during one hour of extraction. The results of the extracted oil showed that the relative density values and the refractive index comply with international standards