Steam distillation is a great method for isolating natural oils from many plant-based sources. In this video, I demonstrate how to perform a steam distillation of clove powder to isolate eugenol-the compound that gives rise to the unique odor and taste of cloves.
NOTE: NMR confirms that the oil obtained from steam distillation is quite pure eugenol, with some small peaks that appear to correspond to beta-caryophyllene.
2 авг 2024