EXTRACTION OF LIMONENE FROM ORANGE PEEL

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 74 0 C and -74 0 C 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 P H 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 P H 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) 2

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 74 O C 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, antisclerotic, 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). 3

CITRUS FRUIT Juice Extraction Peel Mechanise d Process Liquid slurry Steam Distillation Cattle feed Alcohol Molasses Technical Grade d- Limonene 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 74 0 C) 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 Appearance Odour Boiling Point Melting point Results Greenish yellow Strong Orange Aroma 74 0 C -74 0 C 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 74 0 C and -74 0 C 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, 74 0 C and -74 0 C 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. 7

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 1 st. 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 26 th 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. 10 th 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. 9