Optimization of d-limonene Extraction from Tangerine Peel in Various Solvents by Using Soxhlet Extractor

Abstract

D-limonene included in citrus fruits is obtainable to extract essential oil as well as separate the oil ingredient. Soxhlet extraction, a type of SDE (Simultaneous steam Distillation and solvent Extraction), was used to extract limonene from tangerine peel. HPLC analysis was performed to quantify extracted d-limonene by using reversed-phase HPLC column. Results of HPLC analysis showed that the optimal extraction time was 2 hours in any solvent, and the extracted amounts of d-limonene in tangerine peel (per g tangerine peel) were 7.77 mg, 0.49 mg, and 0.28 mg in ethyl alcohol, nhexane, and ether. Because yield was the highest in using ethyl alcohol as a solvent, polarity is stronger factor to effect on yield of extraction than boiling point.