APLIKASI TEKNOLOGI DISTILASI VAKUM GELOMBANG MIKRO SEBAGAI UPAYA PENINGKATAN KADAR PATCHOULI ALCOHOL (Application of Microwave Vacuum Distillation Technology As Increased Levels of Patchouli Alcohol)

Abstract

Patchouli oil is the result of purification of patchouli leaves and stems of plants. Oil is classified as a volatile oil with the main components are Patchouli alcohol. Patchouli oil is good to have levels above 30% PA, clear yellow and has a distinctive odor that is difficult to remove. Due to the nature of the strong aroma, patchouli oil is widely used in the perfume industry and an export commodity that made Indonesia known as the largest supplier of patchouli oil in the world. Yield and quality of patchouli oil needs to be improved by the method of distillation. Patchouli oil refining technology in an effort to raise levels of patchouli alcohol is now very sophisticated, one by way of microwave vacuum distillation. Microwave vacuum distillation is the separation of mixtures of two or more compounds based on differences in their boiling points and ease of evaporation by heating through direct collision, and the solvent and the polar material is governed by two phenomena, namely the ionic conduction and dipole rotation. This lab is the application of microwave vacuum distillation technology to boost the alcohol content of Patchouli. While the analysis carried out include: analysis of density, viscosity analysis, analysis of acid number, and Patchouli Alcohol content analysis using Gas Chromatography. Than 6 times the lab with a different length of time refining the most optimal time to increase levels of patchouli alcohol is 9 hours, which can produce patchouli alcohol content of 30.4%.