Optimization of the citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) steam oil extraction at the UPLB Laguna-Quezon Land Grant Siniloan, Laguna

Date

4-2012

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Major Course

Major in Agricultural Power and Machinery Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Ralph Kristoffer B. Gallegos

Committee Member

Rossana Marie C. Amongo, Victor A. Rodulfo, Jr., Ronel S. Pangan

Restrictions

Restricted: Not available to the general public and for consultation with the author/thesis adviser. Access is available only to those bound by the confidentiality agreement.

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Abstract

This study aimed to optimize the performance of the 150 kg load citronella distiller located at the UPLB-LQLG in Siniloan, Laguna. Box and Behnken experimental design was used to determine the effects of air drying time after harvest, length of cut of the leaves and loading capacity to the weight of wood fuel used, time of extraction and oil recovery. Response surface regression methodology was used in analyzing the response at 90% and 95% confidence levels. Results showed that the time of extraction was independent of the operating parameters while the weight of fuel used was solely dependent on the loading capacity. Oil recovery was dependent on the independent variables. The optimum values obtained from the generated predictor equations are 3 days of air during time after harvest, 3 inches length of cut and 50 kg loading capacity. The combination resulted to 0.75% oil recovery, 100 kg weight of wood fuel and 7.52 hour of extraction. The temperature inside the distiller was found to be uniform after an hour of operation. The cost of producing citronella oil was computed to be greater than its current selling price making the operation not profitable with the current scale.

Language

English

LC Subject

Agricultural power and machinery engineering.

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology

Call Number

LG 993.5 2012 A2 A74

Document Type

Thesis

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