Extraction of Essential Oil from Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) using Clevenger-Type Hydro-Distillation: A Case Study

This study evaluated the essential oil yield of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) through hydro-distillation using a Clevenger apparatus.A total of 500 g of freshly harvested lemongrass leaves were processed in three replicates. The oil volumes obtained were 2.1, 2.3, and 2.0 mL, corresponding to yields of 0.42%, 0.46%, and 0.40%, respectively. The mean oil yield was 0.43% ± 0.03, with a mean volume of 2.13 ± 0.15 mL, aligning with the lower range of previously reported values for hydro-distillation. The distillation was conducted for 3 hours using a 1:3 plant-to-water ratio and a chopped leaf size of 1—2 cm to maximize oil recovery. The resulting essential oil was pale yellow, clear, and had a strong lemon-like aroma, characteristic of citral dominance. No emulsification or contamination was observed. Though hydro-distillation is less efficient than steam or supercritical CO2 extraction, its simplicity and safety make it suitable for small-scale and academic applications. The findings underscore the importance of harvest timing, chopping size, and consistent distillation parameters in achieving optimal oil yield and quality.