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How can isoprenoids be isolated from plant resins and essential oils?
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Isoprenoid
Camphor, an isoprenoid compound classified as a terpenoid ketone, is used in incense and certain medicinal compounds. It is a natural substance obtained from the camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), a species of evergreen.
Isoprenoids are isolated from plant resins and essential oils using various physical and chemical techniques, with the specific method chosen based on the compound's abundance, stability, and physical properties.1
Isolation Methods
- Distillation: This is the most common method for volatile substances. For example, turpentine is obtained from oleoresins via distillation, while steam distillation is the primary process for extracting essential oils from crushed plant material. Fractional distillation at reduced pressure is used to separate components like rosin acids and fatty acids found in tall oil.12
- Enfleurage and Maceration: These processes involve using fat to extract heat-sensitive ingredients. In enfleurage, flowers are placed on purified fat to absorb oils, which are later recovered using alcohol. Maceration uses hot fat for a similar purpose.12
- Solvent Extraction: Specialists may use volatile solvents like benzene or petroleum naphtha to recover oils from materials that cannot be processed by steam distillation.2
- Expression: This mechanical process is used specifically for citrus oils, where the peel is pressed and the oil is separated by decanting or centrifugation.2
- Chromatography: For rare compounds or mixtures with similar physical properties, chromatography is employed to achieve separation based on selective adsorption.13