A Preliminary Study Of Green Cardamom Extraction Using Microwave Hydrodiffusion And Gravity: Effects Of Extraction Time And Feed-To-Distiller

Microwave Hydrodiffusion and Gravity (MHG) is a solvent-free extraction technique that offers faster processing and lower energy consumption compared to conventional methods.Although MHG has been successfully applied to various botanicals, its use in extracting essential oil from green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) seeds remains limited.This study evaluates the effects of extraction time and the feed-to-distiller volume ratio (F/D) on the yield of essential oil using MHG with the addition of steam flow.Experiments were conducted using extraction times ranging from 40 to 240 minutes and F/D ratios of 0.15, 0.175, and 0.20 g/mL.Results indicate that both extended extraction durations and higher F/D ratios significantly improve oil yield, with the maximum yield reaching 2.08% under optimal conditions.The addition of steam was found to enhance heat distribution and vapor permeability within the distiller, preventing material scorching and ensuring uniform extraction.Compared to traditional techniques such as Soxhlet and hydrodistillation, the MHG method with steam flow demonstrated improved process efficiency and environmental compatibility.The presence of key bioactive compounds such as 1,8-cineole, -terpineol, and limonene-confirmed by GC-MS analysis-further supports the suitability of this method for producing high-quality essential oils.These findings highlight the potential of MHG with steam flow as a sustainable and scalable approach for essential oil extraction from cardamom seeds, aligning with green processing principles for industrial applications.