Extraction by Steam Distillation of Artemisia herba-alba Essential Oil from Algeria: Kinetic Study and Optimization of the Operating Conditions

In order to study the extraction process of essential oil from Artemisia herba-alba, kinetic studies as well as an optimization of the operating conditions were achieved. The optimization was carried out by a parametric study and experiments planning method. Three operational parameters were chosen: Artemisia mass to be treated, steam flow rate and extraction time. The optimal extraction conditions obtained by the parametric study correspond to: a mass of 30 g, a steam flow rate of 1.65 mL . min(-1) and the extraction time of 60 min. The results reveal that the combined effects of two parameters, the steam water flow rate and the extraction time, are the most significant. The yield is also affected by the interaction of the three parameters. The essential oil obtained with optimal conditions was analyzed by GC-MS and a kinetic study was realised.