Extraction methods of essential oil from kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix): A review / Suhaila Mohd Sauid and Faris Azri Aswandi

Essential oil is a valuable product in various industries but unfortunately, it is scarce. Various
extraction methods currently being used to obtain the essential oil from kaffir lime leaves (Citrus
hystrix), however, to date, best extraction methods are yet to be concluded. This review paper
highlights the production yield, pros and cons of various kaffir lime leaves essential oil extraction
methods available in present research papers albeit limited to lab scale. Each methodology has their
own advantages and disadvantages, so it is not possible to say that one method is the best. This
review also covers the pre-treatment processes as since they can significantly affect the performance
of other important processes as well as the production yield. In conclusion, each of the extraction
and pre-treatment method has its own pros and cons, hence selecting a suitable method depend
heavily on the producer’s requirements.