Comparison of % composition of essential oils in citrus peels of orange (Citrus aurantium), lemon (Citrus limomum), and lime (Citrus aurantifolia) by solvent extraction using hexane and ethyl acetate as the solvents / Nuurhuda Diyana Mohd Tahir

Essential oils from citrus peels of orange, lemon, and lime were extracted by solvent extraction using hexane and ethyl acetate as the solvent. The composition of essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS). Overall, hexane extracts from all citrus peels showed higher percentage yield. Hexane extraction of orange, lemon, and lime peels provided the yields of 7.21, 6.28, and 8.09%, whereas only 6.09, 4.94 and 7.11% yields, respectively were obtained from ethyl acetate extract. The major constituents of hexane extract from orange (citrus aurantium) peel were limonene (73.13%), citral (0.96%), a-pinene (0.60%)) and b-pinene (1.28%) whereas limonene (36.66%>) and b-pinene (0.12%>) are the major components of the ethyl acetate extracts essential oil. The major constituents of hexane extract from lemon (citrus limomum) peel were limonene (33.52%), citral (3.15%), and bpinene (10.14%) whereas limonene (1.18%) are the major component of the ethyl acetate extracts essential oil. The major constituents of hexane extract from lime (citrus aurantifolia) peel were limonene (18.79%), citral (6.45%), a-pinene (0.43%) germacrene B (3.29%) and bpinene (2.45%) whereas limonene (15.67%) citral (5.80%), a-pinene (1.75%), germacrene B (1.75%)), and b-pinene (9.25%) are the major components of the ethyl acetate extract