The Valve Opening Effect on Pilot Plant Scale Distillation of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmanii) Leaf Oil Characteristic

Abstract

Cinnamon leaf oil was obtained by laboratory-scale steam distillation, however, industrial application requires scale-up, since steam flow rate controlled by valve opening influenced characteristics. This study investigates steam valve opening effects on pilot-scale cinnamon leaf oil characteristics. Yield, volatile compound and physicochemical properties were evaluated across ¼, ½, and ¾ valve opening. The results of this study showed a significant difference at 5% significancy level in the specific gravity and refractive index values which the wider valve opening of the steam pipe results in higher specific gravity and refractive index. This was related to the oxygenated compound found in the wider valve opening of the steam pipe. Still, there was no significant difference between the samples in yield, solubility in 70% alcohol, and viscosity. The volatile compounds at the ¼-valve opening of the steam pipe were more diverse compared to the two other samples. The volatile compounds area of this study showed that a wider valve opening in the steam pipe reduces the Area of volatile compounds. Narrower valve openings significantly increase specific gravity and refractive index without affecting yield, alcohol solubility, or viscosity, also produce more diverse volatile compound compositions and higher peak areas.