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US 8,329,229 B2Granted
Steam distillation of catmint plants
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsYamaira Gonzalez, Scott Christopher Jackson, Leo Ernest Manzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention provides processes for improved recovery of essential oil from the catmint (catnip) plant Nepeta cataria.
Claims18
A process for obtaining catmint oil from Nepeta cataria comprising:
- (a) contacting Nepeta cataria plant material with steam to form a volatilized mixture comprising catmint oil and water;
- (b) condensing the volatilized mixture formed in step (a) to form a liquid mixture comprising catmint oil and water in which catmint oil is dissolved in water;
- (c) contacting the liquid mixture formed in step (b) with a salt, selected from the group consisting of sulfate, nitrate and phosphate salts of the elements of Groups 1 and 2 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, to provide a mixture in which catmint oil and salt are both dissolved in water, and in which
- (i) the solubility of catmint oil in the solution of water and salt is at least about 50% less than the solubility of catmint oil in water, and/or
- (ii) the ratio [(ρcatmint oil-ρaqueous solution)/μaqueous solution], where ρ is density, μ is viscosity and the aqueous solution is the solution of water and salt, is less than or equal to about −0.05,
- to provide in the mixture a catmint oil phase that is separated from an aqueous salt solution phase;
- and
- (d) recovering the catmint oil phase from the mixture to provide a separated catmint oil phase and a remaining aqueous salt solution phase.
5 more elements
A process for obtaining catmint oil from Nepeta cataria comprising:
- (a) contacting Nepeta cataria plant material with steam in a direct fired retort to form a volatilized mixture comprising catmint oil and water;
- (b) condensing the volatilized mixture formed in step (a) to form a liquid mixture comprising catmint oil and water;
- (c) contacting the liquid mixture formed in step (b) with a salt selected from the group consisting of the sulfate, nitrate and phosphate salts of elements of Groups 1 and 2 of the Periodic Table of the Elements;
- (d) separating the liquid mixture into a catmint oil phase and a water salt-containing phase;
- (e) recycling the water phase back to the direct fired retort of step (a);
- and
- (f) recovering the catmint oil phase.
4 more elements
A process for obtaining catmint oil from Nepeta cataria comprising:
- (a) contacting Nepeta cataria plant material with steam in a direct fired retort under vacuum to form a volatilized mixture comprising catmint oil and water;
- (b) condensing the volatilized mixture formed in step (a) to form a liquid mixture comprising catmint oil and water;
- (c) contacting the liquid mixture formed in step (b) with a salt selected from the group consisting of the sulfate, nitrate and phosphate salts of elements of Groups 1 and 2 of the Periodic Table of the Elements;
- (d) separating the liquid mixture into a catmint oil phase and a water salt-containing phase;
- and
- (e) recovering the catmint oil phase from the mixture to provide the separated catmint oil phase and a remaining water phase.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.