Comparative Analysis of Extraction of Oil from Lemon Grass and Its Usage as DEET Free Insect-Repellent

The work done will focus on the study and optimization of extraction of ingredient oil from lemongrass. This study investigates the influence of operating parameters like time, size, and type of grass on the extraction of oil. Lemon grass is an important herbal and aromatic plant and its oil is one of the major essential oils used in the perfumery and cosmetic industry. It is widely used in the scented soaps, sprays, deodorants, polishes and medicines. The extracted oil is rich in Citral A & P. Citral is the starting material for the manufacture of vitamin A. In the present experiment citral is isolated by Hydro-distillation of lemon grass, by using both bath and continuous methods. The distillate contains 90 % citral and 10 % neral, the isomer about the 2, 3-bond. Various experiments are carried out on a lab scale to optimize the parameters and get the maximum yield. The extracted oil is analyzed by using gas chromatography. The result indicates that the wet grass gives the maximum extract. The Yield can be raised from 8% to 12% by using Hydro-distillation and pre heated water as solvent. During the comparative study it is clearly seen that the batch experiments with wet grass as raw material gives maximum yield. The repellent effects of different doses of the essential oils from the lemon grass, Cymbopogon citratus were evaluate in laboratory. The results of lemon grass oil testing were compared with those that were obtained when test animals were treated with an equivalent dose of diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, which is a repellent that is commonly used as a positive control.