Avances tecnológicos y sostenibles en la extracción de aceites esenciales

Oscar  Fernandez Platas; Luis Mejía Macario

doi:10.22201/ceide.16076079e.2025.26.5.8

Authors

Oscar Fernandez Platas Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Misantla, México https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0229-2823
Luis Mejía Macario Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Misantla, México https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3615-3980

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/ceide.16076079e.2025.26.5.8

Keywords:

essential oils, sustainable extraction, microwaves, ohmic heating, plant biotechnology

Abstract

Essential oils are the aromatic soul of plants, containing compounds with therapeutic, relaxing, and antimicrobial properties, found in species like lavender and eucalyptus. Extracting them, however, is no easy task. Traditional methods, such as hydrodistillation or steam distillation, have been used for centuries, but they are often slow and yield modest results. Today, science is giving this art a modern twist: microwave-assisted hydrodistillation, ohmic heating distillation, and the use of ultrasound or enzymes allow for faster, more efficient, and more sustainable oil extraction. In some cases, extraction is reduced from hours to minutes, while maintaining aroma and quality. These innovations could transform the essential oils industry, combining tradition and technology, nature and electricity. This article reveals how science is capturing the essence of plants for a more fragrant, faster, and more surprising future.

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