UJI KINERJA DISTILASI VAKUM GELOMBANG MIKROUNTUK MENINGKATKAN KADAR PATCHOULI ALKOHOL PADA PEMURNIAN MINYAK NILAM (Performance Test of Microwaves Vacuum Distillation to Increase Purity Patchouli Alcohol In Patchouli Oil Purification)

Abstract

Patchouli oil is categorized in essential oil with it’s main component Patchouli Alcohol, patchouli’s leaves and stem contained this oil. Patchouli oil widely used in perfumes and cosmetic industries. Yield and quality of patchouli oil needs to be improved by using distillation method. Vacuum distillation also called low pressure distillation. To prevent the decomposition of organic coumpounds it is recommended to do distillation with this method. This distillation is mainly used for samples with boiling points above 150 0C. The principle of heating by using microwave is based on a direct collision with polar material or solvent and is regulated by two phenomenons which were ionic conduction and dipole rotation. In most cases, these two phenomenon walks simultaneously. Microwave vacuum distillation is a separation of a mixture based on the boiling point’s differences by using a micro wave heatingwhich was more efisient than usual heating. This practicum is a patchouli oil refining which aims to increase patchouli alcohol’s concentration by using micro wave vaccum distillation. While the analysis that conducted are : density analysis, viscosity analysis, acid number analysis, and Patchouli Alcohol’s concentration analysis by using Gas Chromathography. From 6 times practicum with different length refining time obtained Patchouli Alcohol’s concentration average 26,6% and a linear regression y= -0.0645x2 + 2.2626x +14.811 and R2 = 0.9468.