Investigation on the supercritical CO2 extraction of the volatile constituents from Juniperus communis obtained under different treatments of the "berries" (cones)

The present investigation reports the experimental data a) from the recovery and the composition of the extract under super critical fluid extraction from juniperus communis L. "berries" (cones), and b) their comparison with those of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation. For the extraction of the juniper oil different values of temperature and pressure were applied; furthermore, the degree of comminution of the plant material was also considered - a) integral "berries" and b) comminuted "berries". The quality of the oil recovered from the "berries" by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction was found to be highly dependent on the applied conditions. The comminution affected greatly the oil recovery and consequently the final composition of the extracts. Significant differences were recorded between the supercritical CO2 extract and the distilled oil, the latter being more enriched in monoterpenoid hydrocarbons.