Media type: E-Article Title: An original solvent free microwave extraction of essential oils from spices Contributor: Lucchesi, Marie Elisabeth; Chemat, Farid; Smadja, Jacqueline Published: Wiley, 2004 Published in: Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 19 (2004) 2, Seite 134-138 Language: English DOI: 10.1002/ffj.1274 ISSN: 1099-1026; 0882-5734 Origination: Footnote: Description: AbstractAttention is drawn to the development of a new and green alternative technique for the extraction of essential oils from spices. Solvent‐free microwave extraction (SFME) is a combination of dry distillation and microwave heating without added any solvent or water. SFME and hydrodistillation (HD) were compared for the extraction of essential oil from three spices: ajowan (Carum ajowan, Apiaceae), cumin (Cuminum cyminum, Umbelliferae), star anise (Illicium anisatum, Illiciaceae). Better results have been obtained with the proposed method in terms of rapidity (1 h vs. 8 h), efficiency and no solvent used. Furthermore, the SFME procedure yielded essential oils that could be analysed directly without any preliminary clean‐up or solvent exchange steps. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.