Sustainable and green extraction of citrus peel essential oil using intermittent solvent-free microwave technology

Abstract In the present study, a novel technology called intermittent solvent-free microwave extraction (ISFME), which integrates intermittent microwave treatment with solvent-free extraction, was proposed. Taking Nanfeng citrus peel as the research object, the extraction efficiency and composition...

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Main Authors: Yuhao Xie, Longdi Zhang, Wenting Wu, Jiahao Xie, Boliang Gao, Yiwen Xiao, Du Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Bioresources and Bioprocessing
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-025-00885-6
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author Yuhao Xie
Longdi Zhang
Wenting Wu
Jiahao Xie
Boliang Gao
Yiwen Xiao
Du Zhu
author_facet Yuhao Xie
Longdi Zhang
Wenting Wu
Jiahao Xie
Boliang Gao
Yiwen Xiao
Du Zhu
author_sort Yuhao Xie
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In the present study, a novel technology called intermittent solvent-free microwave extraction (ISFME), which integrates intermittent microwave treatment with solvent-free extraction, was proposed. Taking Nanfeng citrus peel as the research object, the extraction efficiency and composition of its essential oil were evaluated and compared with conventional hydrodistillation (HD) and solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME). Results from single-factor experiments and response surface method optimization indicate that the optimal parameters for SFME are a power of 660 W, a duration of 20 min, and a water content of 60%, yielding an essential oil output of 3.47%. In contrast, the optimal parameters for ISFME, determined through single-factor experiments, are a moisture content of 50%, a power setting of 380 W, a reaction time of 6 min, a 15 min interval, and 4 reaction cycles, resulting in an essential oil yield of 3.51%. Notably, the extraction efficiencies of ISFME and SFME are significantly superior to that of HD, which requires 240 min and yields only 3.28% essential oil. Furthermore, ISFME demonstrates comparable performance to SFME in terms of reaction time, extraction rate, and oil quality, while operating at a substantially lower power requirement of 380 W compared to the 660 W needed for SFME. Additionally, the carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption associated with ISFME are markedly lower than those of traditional methods, amounting to only one-third of the energy consumption of SFME. These findings underscore that ISFME not only enhances the efficiency and quality of essential oil extraction but also minimizes environmental impact, thereby highlighting its significant advantages in terms of sustainability and ecological responsibility. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-9675337caba442b2bb88c41a3206e9d52025-08-20T03:22:00ZengSpringerOpenBioresources and Bioprocessing2197-43652025-05-0112111810.1186/s40643-025-00885-6Sustainable and green extraction of citrus peel essential oil using intermittent solvent-free microwave technologyYuhao Xie0Longdi Zhang1Wenting Wu2Jiahao Xie3Boliang Gao4Yiwen Xiao5Du Zhu6Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Natural Microbial Medicine Research, Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Metabolism of Nanchang City, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal UniversityJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Natural Microbial Medicine Research, Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Metabolism of Nanchang City, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal UniversityJiangxi Center of Medical Device TestingJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Natural Microbial Medicine Research, Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Metabolism of Nanchang City, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal UniversityJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Natural Microbial Medicine Research, Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Metabolism of Nanchang City, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal UniversityJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Natural Microbial Medicine Research, Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Metabolism of Nanchang City, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal UniversityJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Natural Microbial Medicine Research, Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Metabolism of Nanchang City, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal UniversityAbstract In the present study, a novel technology called intermittent solvent-free microwave extraction (ISFME), which integrates intermittent microwave treatment with solvent-free extraction, was proposed. Taking Nanfeng citrus peel as the research object, the extraction efficiency and composition of its essential oil were evaluated and compared with conventional hydrodistillation (HD) and solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME). Results from single-factor experiments and response surface method optimization indicate that the optimal parameters for SFME are a power of 660 W, a duration of 20 min, and a water content of 60%, yielding an essential oil output of 3.47%. In contrast, the optimal parameters for ISFME, determined through single-factor experiments, are a moisture content of 50%, a power setting of 380 W, a reaction time of 6 min, a 15 min interval, and 4 reaction cycles, resulting in an essential oil yield of 3.51%. Notably, the extraction efficiencies of ISFME and SFME are significantly superior to that of HD, which requires 240 min and yields only 3.28% essential oil. Furthermore, ISFME demonstrates comparable performance to SFME in terms of reaction time, extraction rate, and oil quality, while operating at a substantially lower power requirement of 380 W compared to the 660 W needed for SFME. Additionally, the carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption associated with ISFME are markedly lower than those of traditional methods, amounting to only one-third of the energy consumption of SFME. These findings underscore that ISFME not only enhances the efficiency and quality of essential oil extraction but also minimizes environmental impact, thereby highlighting its significant advantages in terms of sustainability and ecological responsibility. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-025-00885-6Solvent-free microwave extractionEssential oilNanfeng tangerineOrange peelEnergy consumption
spellingShingle Yuhao Xie
Longdi Zhang
Wenting Wu
Jiahao Xie
Boliang Gao
Yiwen Xiao
Du Zhu
Sustainable and green extraction of citrus peel essential oil using intermittent solvent-free microwave technology
Bioresources and Bioprocessing
Solvent-free microwave extraction
Essential oil
Nanfeng tangerine
Orange peel
Energy consumption
title Sustainable and green extraction of citrus peel essential oil using intermittent solvent-free microwave technology
title_full Sustainable and green extraction of citrus peel essential oil using intermittent solvent-free microwave technology
title_fullStr Sustainable and green extraction of citrus peel essential oil using intermittent solvent-free microwave technology
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable and green extraction of citrus peel essential oil using intermittent solvent-free microwave technology
title_short Sustainable and green extraction of citrus peel essential oil using intermittent solvent-free microwave technology
title_sort sustainable and green extraction of citrus peel essential oil using intermittent solvent free microwave technology
topic Solvent-free microwave extraction
Essential oil
Nanfeng tangerine
Orange peel
Energy consumption
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-025-00885-6
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