How to Extract Orange Oil

Welcome to CR4.

Why do you want to try and create your own orange-based cleaning product when you are better off buying it?

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It will be cheaper and more effective against stains than anything someone could make in their backyard, and just as environmentally friendly.

Hi, Thanks for that We have a prolific Orange tree in the back garden (also a lemon ). The juice is fine but the shells are a waste, not being suitable for the compost or worm-farm. May as well use them for something and I understand that you can make natural herbicides/insectersides along with cleaning oils with them. Regard

If only the orange coloring of the skin is used, (the white makes it bitter) and a little sugar is added, Use vodka and let sit for a few weeks. Tastes better and you won't care about cleaning your house!

At larger industrial scales, they extract orange oil and other such scents, aromas, and essences by dissolving it in an organic solvent such as hexane. They then boil off the solvent and what's left is the essence, etc. The solvent's re-used over and over again.

For food flavourings, I think I've heard of using acetone. Same idea.

Fun fact: 'natural flavours' used in the food industry are extracted principally this way. So sure, the flavour's 'natural' as opposed to lab-synthesized, but it's been passed in some organic fluid or other. Sounds like ick, but it's safe and it works ...

perfect answer!!!

Why do you want to do math, when you can use a calculator ? (with even better results).

Wendylucia,

You can try this:

Crush and cold press the fresh peelings the way olive oil is extracted.

Orange oil is volatile. I have pinched the peel of a navel orange while holding a match near it and it produced little flaming streamers. It dries relatively slowly, minimizing solvent waste. It can harm certain kinds of plastics. It requires good ventilation.

When using it you can use Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to remove its residue if necessary.

Soap and water works good too.

Jon

dry the orange shells if possible.

pass the steam under pressure through the shells. condense the steam in suitable condenser. Take the condensate and seperate the floating oil .

i have not tried this but should be worked

Puree the damp peels with enough water to make a slurry.Freeze the mixture.The thawing process will burst any remaining cell walls.After the thaw cycle, add alcohol to get a thin slurry and agitate thoroughly. Filter through a coffee filter. Spread into a flat pan and allow to dry.The alcohol will evaporate, leaving the oil behind.Good Luck.

EZStreet