Modeling of basil essential oil extraction with variable diffusion coefficient

Abstract

Essential oils are complex mixtures of volatile compounds found at low levels in aromatic plant specific parts. Soluble in organic solvents, these oils are characterized by their fragrance and antimicrobial activity, being widely used in industries. The mathematical modeling of essential oil extraction is a relevant step in the project of industrial plants because it is about achieving optimized operational conditions. A model is available in the literature describing the extraction process of basil essential oil, based on diffusion within the leaf. Parametric equations were tested for the variable diffusion coefficient with the concentration, resulting in a significant improvement in the description process, when compared to papers presented in the literature.