An experimental design approach for the extraction of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oleoresin using pressurised liquid extraction (PLE)
Extraction of lemongrass oleoresin was successfully optimised using Pressurised Liquid Extraction (PLE). Character impact compounds; neral, geranial and geraniol which constituted 72% oleoresin, were monitored during this optimisation study by using GCMSD. Based on maximum extraction of these compounds, the optimised operating conditions for PLE were a temperature of 167°C, a pressure of 1203 psi and a static time of 20.43 min. The quality of PLE extract were compared with conventional extraction methods, hydrodistillation and Soxhlet extraction. The proposed method was found to be better in term of quantity of the targeted character impact compounds.