Enhanced Extraction by Hydrodistillation of Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Essential Oil Using Water Solutions of Non-ionic Surfactants

The extraction of Salvia officinalis L. essential oil was carried out by hydrodistillation using aqueous solutions of non ionic surfactants with different hydrophile-lipophile balance. An increase of oil yield with increasing the surfactant hydrophilic-lipophilic balance was observed. The best yield, 1.83 %, was obtained in presence of Tween 20, while the use of Span 80 did not affect the oil yield and its composition. The analysis by CG-MS and GC of essential oils obtained with and without surfactant, allowed the identification of 56 compounds, representing 96.5-97.1% of the total oil, with alpha-thujone, camphor and 1,8-cineol as major components. The quantitative oils composition helped to provide an insight on how the surfactant is involved in the essential oil extraction.