Limonene determination in Citrus peel extracts obtained by green supercritical fluid extraction

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 206 - 215

Osman Burgaz , Ilker Yildirim , Ferhat Sana , Alper Baycan , Hilal Sahin Nadeem , Ibrahim Polat

https://doi.org/10.53663/turjfas.1753303

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition of essential oils extracted from the peels of four citrus fruit species—mandarin (Citrus reticulata L.), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.), lemon (Citrus limon L.), and orange (Citrus sinensis L.)—using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). The extracted oils were analyzed and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The main components and yields of the essential oils were as follows: mandarin oil contained limonene (85.8%), β-myrcene (6.2%), and γ-terpinene (5.1%) with a yield of 6.88%; lemon oil included limonene (79.8%), γ-terpinene (9.5%), and β-pinene (15.1%) with a yield of 5.56%; orange oil consisted predominantly of limonene (98.5%), with minor amounts of γ-terpinene (1.4%) and β-myrcene (1.7%) yielding 7.5%; and grapefruit oil contained limonene (97.9%), linalool (1.5%), and myrcene (1.8%) with a yield of 6.95%.
Limonene was identified as the predominant compound in all four Citrus essential oils, accompanied by relatively high extraction yields. The variation in limonene content among species may be attributed to genetic factors, geographical origin, and seasonal differences, as well as environmental parameters such as soil type and climate. Additionally, postharvest handling, drying conditions, and the plant tissues selected for extraction are likely to influence essential oil composition.

Keywords

Citrus essential oils , Citrus peel , Freeze drying , Limonene , Phenolic compounds , Supercritical fluid extraction

Ethical Statement

This manuscript has not been submitted elsewhere, and the findings presented here have not been utilized in any studies involving animals or human subjects.

Thanks

We also appreciate the valuable contribution of lab boys, field staff and juniors during the experimental period. We sincerely thank want to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Volkan Polat and Polat Makina Industry and Trade Inc. Polat Makina Tic. A.S. for their invaluable support and contribution to this work-study. Their guidance and the resources they provided were instrumental in the successful completing this work-study.

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