Comparative Study of Volatile Oils from peels of Orange, Lemon and Grapefruit

Abstract

Amount of Lemon oil extracted was 53ml compared to orange 45ml and grapefruit 43ml. Refractive index was 1.48 in lemon, 1.47 orange and 1.42 grapefruit. Density values found to be 0.86 for lemon, 0.84 orange and 0.89 for grapefruit. PH values were 3.3 for lemon, 2.2 orange and 3.6 grapefruit. Acid number values found in lemon, orange and grapefruit were 1.79, 1.99, and 2.23 respectively. Saponification values of lemon, orange and grapefruit were 16.75, 13.5, and 13.7. Peroxide number values in lemon oil were 13.67, orange 18.68 and grapefruit 9.59. GC.MS analysis showed presence of, 12,11and 24chemical constituents in lemon, orange and grapefruit volatile oils respectively. The three main components and their percentage compositions were, D- limonene(64%),2-cyclohe-xen-1-ol(6.21%) and pinene(3.822%)in lemon peel volatile oil D-limonene(54.151%) pulegone (11.653%) and L-carvone(2-cyclohexane-1-one) (5.457%)in orange peel volatile oil, and β –pinene(23.124%), D-limonene (17.07%) and α-pinene(10.399%)in grapefruit volatile oil. The main component found in the three samples is D-limonene.