Effect of the Fractional Distillation on an Increment Patchouli Alcohol Content in Patchouli Oil

Abstract

: Indonesia is one of the patchouli oil producers in the world, however, the problem is the quality of patchouli oil, especially patchouli alcohol content that are still below the required standard. One of the methods that can be used to increase the content of patchouli alcohol is fractional distillation method. This research aims to know the influence of the initial concentration of patchouli alcohol and height of column against increment of patchouli alcohol content in patchouli oil. The experimental design which used was Complete Randomized Design (CRD) consist of two factors, first factor namely the initial concentration of patchouli alcohol (C1 = 31,11%, C2 = 32,83%, and C3 = 33,61%) and second factor is height of column (H1 = 25 cm and H2 = 45 cm). Analysis of variance shows that the height of vigreux column has a real influence against the increased levels of patchouli alcohol. The highest levels of patchouli alcohol (83,86%) obtained from the residue fraction of distillation with 31.11 % initial concentration of patchouli alcohol and 45 cm height of column. The higher levels of patchouli alcohol in patchouli oil residue fraction, the higher specific gravity and the refractive index, and solubility in ethanol will be easier. The result shows that this sample have 1.013 specific gravity, clear in ethanol at 1:5 and have 1.5166 refractive index.