Extraction of lemongrass essential oil with dense carbon dioxide

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil was extracted with dense carbon dioxide at 23–50 °C and 85–120 bar. The composition of samples collected during the first and the last hours of the extraction experiments was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and coextraction of cuticular waxes was observed. Liquid carbon dioxide extracts had a larger quantity of coextracted waxes than the supercritical extracts. The process condition of 120 bar and 40 °C was considered ideal for the extraction of lemongrass essential oil, as a good-quality product was obtained together with a good extraction rate and yield.