CH 116 General & Organic Principles Laboratory

Seton Hill University

Steam Distillation of Orange Oil

Name: Noah M Riccelli. Date: 04/23/2020

Title: Experiment 8AB Steam Distillation of Orange Oil

ABSTRACT: The goals of this experiment were to use steam distillation to isolate essential oils from an
orange peel and also to use infrared spectroscopy (IR) to determine types of functional groups and bonds
in the structure. A distillation apparatus was used to bring the aqueous suspension to a boil and collect
distillate, followed by draining the water layer and isolating the oil layer. The orange oil was placed in a
Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS5 and the IR was determined. There was 0.55% orange oil recovered and the
IR found frequencies that suggest alkane and alkene functional groups within the structure.
EXPERIMENTAL:
Orange peel strips (59.89 g) were placed in a blender and distilled water (225 mL) was added before the
mixture was blended. The orange mixture and two boiling stones were transferred to a 500-mL round-
bottomed flask and the steam distillation apparatus was set up. As the suspension boiled, a clear distillate
(40 mL) was collected. A separatory funnel was used to separate the oil layer from the water layer.
Calcium chloride pellets (0.1 g, 12 pellets) were added to remove residual water from the orange oil. A
clear, colorless liquid was isolated (0.33 g, 0.55%). The orange oil was placed in a Thermo Scientific
Nicolet iS5 machine and the infrared spectroscopy was determined.

DATA/RESULTS:
Structure of Orange Oil: Mass of Orange Peels: 59.89 g

Mass of Orange Oil: 0.33 g

% Recovered (show calculation): 0.55% recovered

0.33 g
×100=0.55 %
59.89 g

IR Spectroscopy:
 CH 116 General & Organic Principles Laboratory
Seton Hill University
Steam Distillation of Orange Oil

List major IR peaks: 3083.75, 3011.54, 2964.98, 2919.89, 2855.72, 2833.89

Frequency (cm-1) observed Type of bond Functional group

3083.75 =C–H stretch Alkenes

3011.54 =C–H stretch Alkenes

2919.89 C–H stretch Alkanes

 CH 116 General & Organic Principles Laboratory
Seton Hill University
Steam Distillation of Orange Oil
2855.72 C–H stretch Alkanes