PEODXJCTION OF SWEET-OEANGE OIL. 



In some preliminary experiments it was noted that when a portion 

 of the vacuum-distilled oil was macerated with unpressed peel for 

 several hours the loss in the volume of the oil recovered was in some 

 instances as high as 10 per cent. Some oil had been absorbed by the 

 peel, although the peel employed contained all its original content of 

 on. When pressure was apphed to this macerated peel all the original 

 oil could be pressed out. A portion of the peel pressed before macera- 

 tion yielded about 95 per cent of its original oil content. When, 

 however, the press cake was 

 distilled with water and the 

 oil thus produced used to 

 macerate the next lot of peel 

 to be pressed, the yield of oil 

 obtained was approximately 

 the original content of the 

 peel. With these facts in 

 mind, the following method 

 was devised for extracting 

 sweet-orange oil by pressure: 



An inexpensive press (fig. 4) was 

 employed in the experimental work. 

 This press consists of a heavy wooden 

 frame, a wooden drmn fitted with a 

 perforated brass cyhnder. and a 

 heavy screw for applying pressm'e. 

 About 20 pounds of the finely ground 

 peel from the first two-thirds of the 

 grating drum was placed in a canvas 

 sack made of 10-ounce duck and the 

 sack placed in the wooden dinim. 

 Pressure was then applied by means 

 of the heavy screw. Before press- 

 ing, the. peel was thoroughly mixed 

 with approximately one-half its 

 weight of water and the whole Fig- ^--Experimental press used in extracting orange oil. 



heated to not over 90° C. The oil and water pressed out were collected in a large 

 container, where the oil came to the top and the water was easily removed. 



The press cake was then thrown into a still (fig. 5, a) and distilled with water. A 

 small quantity of oil was thus secured which was-added to the next lot of peel and the 

 mixture allowed to macerate for a short time. After pressing several lots the 

 mixture of oil and water was placed in a separatory funnel (fig. 5, d) and all the water 

 possible was removed. 



The oil thus obtained formed a thick emulsion with a portion of 

 the water. This emulsification was brought about by means of a 

 gumlike substance which was pressed from the ground peel. The 

 mixture thus formed was found to resist all the regular methods for 

 breaking emulsions. Centrifuging did not throw out the oil, but, 



