Ecological
Approach!
Our distillery offers an ecological approach!
The distillation process that we use is by using steam distillation that matches all environmental standards and in accordance with the type of plant that is distilled. Modern technology enables distillation that retains all the important values of plants in the essential oil, providing maximum quality.
A method of distilling with water vapour:
Water vapour (adjusted temperature and duration of the process according to the plant species) passes through the biomass and takes the odorants while passing. In a separate container with cold water (condenser) condensation of water vapour takes place i.e. the mixture of the oil and hydrolat is being formed and a separation of the water respectively scented water or hydrolat from the essential oils is done in the Florentine bottle.
WATER OR STEAM DISTILLATION
It is the most widely used and most economical method of extracting essential oils. The process requires a lot of skills and knowledge as there are many variables which include time, temperature and the types of distillation plants. Also, some herbs need to be distilled immediately after the harvest, some need to be partially dry and some may require complete drying prior to distillation. Basically, the herbal material is placed above the boiling water (the distillation of water) or in a separate chamber where steam passes through the steam distillation. The latter is sometimes called dry distillation if it is done under the pressure. The advantage of steam distillation over water distillation is that the raw material does not get in touch with boiling water. Heat and vapour cause the breaking of the structure of plant cells and extraction of the essential oils. Essential oils and steam are then conducted through the cooling coil. That is the place where they condense and return to the liquid form which consists of water and essential oils. Most essential oils will float on the surface; heavier oils such as cloves will sink to the bottom. After that they are being separated by using a separating or dispensing funnel. Water that remains after this procedure is called hydrolat (hydrosol) and it contains small amounts of essential oils and other water-soluble plant ingredients.
DISTILLATION – VIDEO
