(57e) Factors That Affect the Quality of the Essential Lemon Oil (Citrus Aurantifolia) during the Distillation

The essential oil of key lime (Citrus aurantifolia) was obtained by steam distillation at normal conditions (1.0 bar/25ºC) with steam at 110ºC, during 10h. The GC analysis identified about 10 principle substances, being limonene, p-cymene, myrcene and b-bisabolene the most significative compounds. Aldehyde content increased significantly during distillation time. After 10h of process, oil has presented more than 3% of aldehydes content due to oxidative reactions.