Subcritical Water Extraction of Essential Oils from Matricaria Chamomilla L.

Subcritical water extraction (SWE) of essential oil from Matricaria Chamomilla L.  (M. Chamomilla L.) was performed and compared with conventional method including hydro distillation. The percentage of main extracted components of different temperatures (100, 125, 150 and 175 oc) and water flow rates (1, 2 and 4 ml/min) were investigated at 20 bar pressure and 0.50 mm mean particle size in SWE. The separation and identification of the components were carried out by gas chromatography (GC)-flame ionization detection and GC-mass spectrometry. The best operating conditions for the SWE of M. Chamomilla L. were determined to be at 150 oc temperature and 4 ml/min flow rate for 120 min extraction time. In comparison with hydro distillation method, the SWE method resulted in a more valuable essential oil with respect to the oxygenated components.