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EXTRACTION OF LIMONENE FROM ORANGE PEEL

Article · January 2011

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EXTRACTION OF LIMONENE FROM ORANGE PEEL

ABUBAKAR EL-ISHAQ, MARUF TIJJANI , SONIA O.O.

AND MUSA I. KATUZU

Department of science laboratory technology,

The Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu Yobe State Nigeria.

Correspondence: ishaq_abubakar@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Limonene a volatile oil was extracted from orange peel using soxhlet extractor. Identifications
were carried out in terms of appearance, colour, odour, and the percentage yield. With the current
trends in aromatherapy, the limonene from lemon if well researched with efficient method of
extraction to increase the yield, the herbal extract of this could be a promising remedy for many
infectious diseases of known origin. Furthermore, the work revealed the physiochemical properties
of limonene with greenish yellow appearance, strong orange aroma odour, boiling point and
melting point which of 740C and -740C respectively. Whereas the average yield of limonene per
orange, orange weight, peel, number of seeds, skin and shaft, and juice content are 1.331±0.763,
221.13±22.24g, 34.94±12.14g, 3.67±2.08g, 89.93±217.65g, and 69.61±20.97g respectively.
Worthy of mentioned was that almost all parts of lemon fruits – the juice, the peels, the seeds and
the essential oil are used topically. This project work bears some recommendations for further
work in this direction.

KEYWORDS : Herbal extract, Aromatherapy, Limonene,Topical and

Introduction

Citrus plants are any related tree that has fruits which include oranges, lemon, lime, and

grapefruits. The important thing that could come out of an orange is the juice. However, every part

of the orange from pulp to peel represent economic and industrial potential materials appropriately

so that the percentage yield of the orange are processed into marketable products.

Lemon essential oil is extracted from the Citrus limonum L.(also known as citrus lemon) of the

Rutaceae family and is also known as cedro oil ,which is referred to as terpeneless oil. Lemon and

other citrus fruits contain vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to the health. A terpene called

d-limonene produce their characteristics lemon smell and taste. Lemon contains a significant

amount of citric acid; this is why they have low PH value and a sour taste. They contain vitamin C

1
that is essential to human health.Lemon can be processed to extract oil and essences. Some sources

state that lemon contain unique flavonoids compound that have antioxidant and anti-cancer

properties. Limonene found in lemon could also be anti-carcinogens. Because of its high vitamin C

content, Lemon has been tested in auto-native medicine as a toxic for the digestive system,

immune system, and the skin. Lemon juice is about 5% acid that gives lemons a tart taste, and a PH

of 2 to 3. This makes lemon juice an inexpensive, readily available acid for use in educational

science experiments (Calomme, et al.,1996: Rimpler,1999).

Nutritional Values/100g; Carbonhydrate9.0g,Dietary fibre2.3g,

Sugars 2.5g,Fat 0.3g,Protein 1.1g,Water 89g,Vitamin C 53mg (88%)

, Citric Acid 5g. ( Calomme et al.,1996)..

packaging and shelf life of d-limonene

Oxidation may occur between the time the oil is extracted and the time it is sealed into a container.

So it must be kept in an airtight container. It must also be kept from contamination by inferior oil

(deteriorated oil) or substance that might increase the rate of deterioration. The shelf life of lemon

oil is only 8 – 10 months, if it is to be used in aromatherapy, but can still be used in fragrance

therapies after this time, such as vapour therapy.

D-Limonene

Limonene recovered from orange peel from the conversion of press liquor to molasses, d-limonene

is used for making everything from adhesive to a solvent used by the electronic industry as a

replacement of ozone depletion chlorofluorocarbons.Limonene is a hydrocarbon classed as a

terpene, it is a clear coloured liquid at a room temperature with a strong smell of orange. It takes its

name from lemon, like other citrus fruits, contains a considerable amount of this chemical

compound responsive for the smell.(Stromvall, 1992: Rimpler,1999)

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Physical Properties

Limonene is colourless liquid oil at room temperature with a characteristic odour. It is insoluble in

water but soluble in alcohol and ether. It has boiling point of 74OC

Chemical Composition

The main chemical compositions of lemon oil are a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, a-

terpene, linalool, b-bisabolene, limonene, trans-a-bergamotene, nerol and neral. It belongs to the

family (chemically) of cycloalkene called terpenes. Its IUPAC name is 4-isopropeny–1–

methylcyclohexane. It has an aldehyde content between 0.13% - 1.50% (karbery; et al. 1992).

Therapeutic Properties

The therapeutic properties of lemon oil are anti-anaemic, antimicrobial, anti-rheumatic, anti-

sclerotic, antiseptic,. It also serves has bactericidal, carminative, cicatrizant, depurative,

diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, haemostatic, hypotensive, insecticidal, rubefacient, tonic and

vermifuge.

Other Uses of Essential Oil

Aromatherapy, Wound and Sores, Douching,Foots,Cataract,Cosmetics,

Stimulating, anti-anaemic, antimicrobial, ant-rheumatic, catarrh, cold, bronchitis, throat infection,

mouth ulcers, spots and varicose,

Essences and Aromas, Cold Pressed Oil. (Opdyke,1978).

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 CITRUS FRUIT

Steam
Peel Mechanise Liquid slurry Distillation
Juice
Extraction d Process

Cattle feed Molasses Technical

Grade
d- Limonene
Alcohol

Perfume

(Koster,2002)

Fig.I.: Limonene extraction process.

Materials and Methods

The orange peel sample was collected, and chemicals of analytical grade purity and distilled water

are used. All glassware washed with a detergent solution and rinsed with distilled water before

drying in the oven.

Extraction Technique 1: Direct steam distillation of outer rind of an orange.Extraction Technique

II: Using trichloroethane(boiling point 740C) as an extracting solvent and a hydrous sodium

sulphate as a drying agent. Separation of Oil-Water Mixture was carried out using Separation

funnel. (Koster, 2002).

4
RESULTS

The extraction of limonene from orange peel was carried out using distillation techniques as

reported. The tables below shows the weight of sample used the corresponding weight of oil

obtained and the percentage yield.

Table I: Showing the Physical Properties of Limonene

Physical Properties Results

Appearance Greenish yellow

Odour Strong Orange Aroma

Boiling Point 740C

Melting point -740C

The percentage oil yields from Orange peel

% oil yield = weight of oil X 100

the weight of the peel

Table II: Showing the Weight of Oil Extractedand and %Oil Yield

/N Weight of Peel (g) Weight of Oil Extracted (g) %Oil Yield (g)

1 204.95 1.8645 0.9100

2 230.61 2.2648 0.9821

3 244.61 4.7924 2.4754

4 234.35 2.2420 0.9567

5 191.12 1.0250 0.5363

Avg. 22.13±22.24 2.43±1.41 1.33±0.76

5
 Average Weight of each Orange Sample Used. The weight of orange is used, the average

weight of the peel, the number of seeds per orange, the average weight of skin and shaft,

and the percentage juice content are shown in Table III below.

Table III: Showing weight of peel,seed no,weight of skin-shaft and juice content

S/N Weight of Weight of Peel No. of seeds Weight of skin Juice

Sample per orange and shaft content

1 204.95 27.53 6 106.13 61.62

2 230.61 24.45 3 91.83 86.53

3 244.61 50.43 - 65.00 43.60

4 234.35 41.34 - 96.75 86.70

5 191.12 21.24 2 68.60 91.74

Avg. 221.13±22.24 34.94±12.14 3.67±2.08 89.93±17.65 69.61±20.97

Discussion.

Historical background of aromatherapy can be traced back to the Egyptian era where the use of

different aroma from plants and animals origin has been used in the treatment of different

ointment. Today aromatherapy used in medicine; it has been discovered that lemon fragrance kept

in working places like offices; Hotels and banking premises help the waiting customers to relax

and keeps the worker at alert. Managers have reported that the presence of aroma in banking

premises reduces the shortage by banking staff by a whopping of 54% (Janicke et al.,2003).

Lemon extract physical and chemical properties such as appearance that is greenish yellow with a

strong orange aroma may be employed in modern therapy to keep customers alert and reduce their

anxiety. The lemon extracted was discovered to have a boiling point and melting point of 740C and

-740C respectively. See Table 1.

6
The percentage yield of limonene is very negligible using distillation apparatus (Soxhlet extractor),

See Table II for detail. It has been reported that tying of lemon rind overnight on the corn, that is,

small area of hardened skin on the foot, especially on a toe relieves the pain and corn itself

(Godwin, 2007) .This could be attributed to the presence of limonene in the rind.

Other parameter were also looked into, like the average weight of orange, the average weight of

peel, number of seeds per orange, the weight of skin and shaft, and lastly the juice content per

orange, see Table III for detail.

Conclusion

With the current world trends in aromatherapy, the limonene from lemon if well researched with

efficient method of extraction to increase the yield, the herbal extract of this could be a promising

remedy for many infections diseases of known origin.

Furthermore, the work revealed the physiochemical properties of limonene like appearance, odour,

boiling point and a melting point that are greenish yellow, strong orange aroma, 740C and -740C

respectively. Whereas the average yield of limonene per orange, orange weight, peel, the number

of seeds, skin and shaft and juice content are 1.331±0.763, 221.13±22.24g, 34.94±12.14g,

3.67±2.08g, 89.93±217.65g, and 69.61±20.97g respectively.

Worthy of mentioned was that almost all parts of lemon fruits – the juice, the peels, the seeds and

the essential oil are used externally.

Recommendations

The isolation of limonene from orange peel had opened up many challenges that could be put

together in the following recommendations:

The more efficient and advanced methods should be developed in other to increase the percentage

yield of limonene per orange.

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The development of industries that could solely depend on the limonene and plant related products

as their raw materials need could be explored.

Limonene research centre should be institutionalised, this could make the citrus farmer more

efficient and hope for the outlet of their farm products, as well as creating job opportunity for the

population of our beloved country.

Government and private individuals should go into the limonene production, beign a capital

intensive, this will create an alternative source of income as well as a foreign exchange for the

acclaimed giant of Africa.

REFERENCES

Calomme, M. et al.( 1996) : “Inhibition of bacterial mutagenesis by Citrus flavonoids,” Planta

Med. 62, 222-226,

Godwin Ihesie (2007).. Getting the best out of Herbs. Saturday Vanguard, Pp 32. September 1st .

Healthiest Foods.Pub.Med.gov. (2006). Limon oil vapour causes an anti-stress effect via

modulating the 5-HT and DA activities in mice. Retrieved on 26th April,2007.

Jänicke,C. Grünwald,J. Brendler, T.H. (2003).: “Handbuch Phytotherapie – Indikationen-

Anwendungen-Wirksamkeit-Präparate”, Wiss. Verlagsgesell. Stuttgart .

Karbery, A.T. Magnusson, K. Nilsson, U. (1992). Air Oxidation of d-limonene (the citrus solvent)

creates potent allergens. Contact Dermatitis, 26: 332 – 340.

8
 Koster, K.S. (2002). Laboratory Methods in Organic Chemistry. Burgee Minneanopolis. Pp 541 –

542.

Opdyke, D.I.J. (1978) Monographs on Fragrance Raw Material Food and Cosmetic Toxicology,

special issue IV 16:809.

Robins, S.J.R. (1983) Selected market for the essential oils of lime, lemon, and orange: Tropical

Products Institute. London.

Stromvall, A.M. (1992) Terpenes emitted to air from the forest and the forest industry. Gotebury,

Chalmers University of Technology.

The Merck Index (1983) An encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs and Biological. 10th edition Pp. 788.

Toplisek Tom and Ross Gustarfson (1995) “ Precision Cleaning” the magazine of critical cleaning

technology. Pp. 17 – 33.

Rimpler, H.( 1999).: “Biogene Arzneistoffe”, Dtsch. Apothekerverlag .

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