Extraction of Fennel Essential Oil Constituents Using a New Modified Rotating Disc Contactor

This paper presents a new application of the Rotating Disc Contactor as an extractor of essential oil from a medicinal plant. Its capability for a solid-liquid extraction was tested. The extraction of essential oil from fennel seeds using a 70 % (v/v) ethanol-water solution was amLomplished in different particle sizes, rotor speeds, and solvent ratios per solid. The modeling of experimental data obtained from each sample's GC analysis was implemented through the response surface methodology of two mathematical regression models. Findings indicated that a linear model is applicable for estimating the extraction yield. Also, in the optimum condition (Least size of particle; Highest solvent per solid ratio, Highest rotor speed), the extraction yield of Anethole (the major component in fennel essential oil) was 1.387.