Sustainable Extraction of Essential Oils from High-Value Perfumery Crops
Course Overview
The Reduced-Energy Hydrodistillation (REHD) Training Course introduces participants to a modern, eco-efficient approach to traditional distillation. This hands-on program demonstrates how optimized hydrodistillation and steam-distillation techniques—enhanced by heat recovery, controlled pressure, and modular distillation systems—can extract premium-quality essential oils with significantly lower energy consumption and environmental impact.
This course integrates engineering principles, sustainability practices, and perfumery science, empowering farmers, entrepreneurs, and researchers to produce natural oils more efficiently and profitably.
Course Duration
- 2–3 days (intensive, blended learning)
- Lecture and discussion: 40%
- Hands-on laboratory and field demonstration: 60%
Target Participants
- Essential oil producers and small distillery owners
- Agroforestry and agribusiness professionals
- Agricultural engineers and chemists
- Researchers and students in plant sciences or natural product chemistry
- Sustainable product developers and perfumery entrepreneurs
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the scientific principles of hydrodistillation and steam distillation.
- Operate a reduced-energy distillation setup safely and efficiently.
- Optimize temperature, pressure, and time for maximum oil yield and quality.
- Apply heat recovery and water recycling techniques to minimize energy use.
- Compare REHD with other extraction technologies (e.g., Supercritical CO₂ Extraction).
- Analyze oil yield, purity, and aroma profile.
- Integrate REHD methods into sustainable community-based production systems.
Course Modules
Module 1 – Introduction to Essential Oil Extraction Technologies
- Overview of natural oil extraction methods
- Traditional vs. modern hydrodistillation
- Sustainability and energy efficiency in essential oil production
Module 2 – Fundamentals of Hydrodistillation
- Physical and chemical principles of distillation
- Volatility, vapor pressure, and condensation dynamics
- Factors affecting oil yield and composition
Module 3 – Design and Components of REHD Systems
- Boiler and condenser design for energy conservation
- Steam flow control, insulation, and thermal management
- Modular and scalable REHD systems for small to medium enterprises
Module 4 – Process Optimization and Energy Reduction
- Temperature-pressure relationship and distillation kinetics
- Pre-treatment of raw materials (drying, grinding, soaking)
- Reusing condensate and implementing closed-loop systems
- Comparative trials: Traditional vs. REHD energy consumption
Module 5 – Hands-On Practical Session
- Setup and operation of REHD equipment
- Oil collection, separation, and measurement
- Real-time monitoring of energy input and yield output
- Safety protocols and troubleshooting
Module 6 – Quality Evaluation and Applications
- Organoleptic and chemical analysis (aroma, color, purity)
- Product applications: perfumery, aromatherapy, and cosmetics
- Standardization and post-processing of essential oils
Module 7 – Environmental & Economic Benefits
- Carbon footprint reduction through energy-efficient technologies
- Water management and waste minimization
- Economic analysis and return-on-investment of REHD adoption
Module 8 – Commercialization and Scaling Up
- Integrating REHD into agroforestry and cooperative models
- Market potential for sustainably extracted essential oils
- Branding, packaging, and certification (GMP, ISO, Organic, CITES-compliant)
Hands-On Activities
- Setting up a bench-scale REHD system
- Running an extraction cycle using agarwood chips or aromatic leaves
- Recording and analyzing distillation curves
- Comparative yield assessment between REHD and conventional systems
Facilities & Materials Provided
- Access to pilot-scale and portable REHD units
- Sample raw materials (agarwood, ylang-ylang, citronella, etc.)
- Lab instruments for temperature, energy, and oil yield monitoring
- Safety gear, manuals, and training handouts
Certification
Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Certificate of Competency in Reduced-Energy Hydrodistillation Technology, issued by Crown Extraction Solutions Inc. in partnership with Cavite State University (CvSU) or a collaborating research institution.
Suggested Course Fee
- Standard (2-day): ₱9,500 – ₱12,000 per participant
- Professional (3-day, with certification & field practice): ₱15,000 – ₱18,000 per participant