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Reduced Pressure Steam Distillation

Not all essential oils can withstand the high-temperature steam used during basic steam distillation.  Traditionally, these fragile oils have been extracted with solvents like butane and alcohol.  This method works well but the drawback is the solvents are often extremely flammable or toxic and the process can be very dangerous for the small-scale distiller.  Large scale commercial distillation has long used a vacuum to reduce boiling temperatures, but this equipment has been far to expensive for small scale use.

Until now!  After much though and hours of lab time we have developed a reduced-pressure distillation system for the small-scale essential oil distiller.  The principal is the same as an oil refinery - reduced pressure equals a lower boiling point. In a Vacuum boiling temperatures are reached more quickly and with less heat.

How much are boiling temperatures reduced?  In the case of water, used to generate steam for essential oil extraction,  we found boiling was achieved at 65 to 70 C, down from the normal 100C. with our vacuum set up.  The 1800ml of water came to a boil in less than 3 minutes.  In short, using this set up, your steam will be 30 - 35C cooler and your boiling time will be greatly reduced and you will use less heat!



Our Vacuum Assembly.  The vacuum is created at the pump, which in turn is connected to the receiving flask, which is connected to the condenser.  Using this assembly, the entire 2000ml steam distillation unit is put under a vacuum: Receiving Flask, Condenser, Product Vessel and Boiling Chamber.  The end result is your fragile plant material may be distilled at a lower temperature.





The basic set up.  The entire system is under a vacuum.  We provide an air inlet at the boiling flask (not shown) to help control the boiling rate.  You will need to provide a heat source.  The condenser will need a water source, tubing and connectors are included.

For small scale production of essential oils, we feel the Super Reflux Oil Extractor is the very best choice.  This unit is made of stainless steel; the large 7 gallon capacity drum makes for easy loading and clean up.  We found both the heating element and condenser to be well engineered and highly efficient; this is a quality piece of equipment that we highly recommend to anyone serious about the production of essential oils.

Our project begins with a morning visit to Hood River Lavender...We chose a mix of English and French lavender, harvested in the morning for maximum oil content.

Preparation begins with water and basket in place.  

4 gallons of water are recommended in the instructions.  We chose to use less water because our lavender was green.  Dry plant material and longer distillation times will require more water.  It is extremely important that the element remains submerged during the distillation.   If all the water boils off, the element and cord will be destroyd.

Fresh lavender was cut into smaller pieces with heavy shears.  Our test batch contains about 2 pounds of lavender.

The condenser in place.   

Power and water supply.

At around 25 minutes the temperature reached 100 C. and the hydrosol / oil mix began to flow from the condenser.

Additional water may be added as needed by removing the thermometer.  Be careful, it is hot! 

Most oil is released within the first hour of distillation. A separatory funnel is used to separate the oil from hydrosol.  The oil will form a layer on top of the hydrosol and can be easily transferred to a vial once the  hydrosol is drawn off.

Our batch of lavender yielded about 1 ounce of high-purity oil.  Note the hole where a few stray drops of oil dissolved the Styrofoam surface of our work area!

Barn Owls are an extremely adaptable raptor and take their name from one of their common nesting sites.  Of course, barn owls have been around a lot longer than barns....in their natural surrounding, barn owls find safe, secure nesting sites in cliff faces.  The barn owls’ light tan color is an adaptation to this environment, providing excellent camouflage in the dry country where they are often found.  Typical owl habitat in the wild might look like this...

A typical barn owl nesting site, a small cave high in the cliff face, has provided shelter for many generations of barn owls.....
 
 

Pellets accumulated below the nest.....

As one of the leading suppliers of owl pellets, Mountain Home Biological takes pride in our work to ensure that future generations of children can enjoy the excitement of dissecting their very own owl pellet.  The pictures below show a magnificent owl habitat.  This farm had 3 unused silos which provided shelter for the local barn owls.  With our addition of an owl box, they now have a nesting site to raise their young as well.

Installed in 1998, a Mountain Home Biological nesting box has increased the owl population and provided a steady supply of natural pellets for your classroom.  Thanks for your business and making this possible! 

 This spring yet another brood of barn owls were raised in the silo box.  This young owl has just emerged from the nest with his adult feathers.
 

As part of our ongoing mission to assure that the student of tomorrow will have owl pellets to dissect, Mountain Home Biological provides these simple, no-frills nesting boxes to our field collectors.