Hi, I'm new here, but I would like to have your opinion concerning the following procedure of safrole extraction :
In sassafras oil, we find in various proportions, depending on the oil's origin :
- Safrole
- Pinene
- Phellandrene
- Camphor
- Eugenol
According to the CRC Handbook of Chemistry :
Water Ethanol
Safrole insoluble very soluble
Pinene insoluble soluble
Phellandrene insoluble insoluble
Camphor slightly soluble very soluble
Eugenol slightly soluble ?
So, if the oil is first repeatedly washed with water, eugenol and camphor will be extracted from the oil. Then, if the oil if treated with ethanol, nearly all safrole and some pinene can be extracted, leaving the phellandrene.
Yes, the purity of safrole isn't perfect, there is residual pinene, but can this procedure be an alternative to freezing or distilling sassatras oil ? For those like me
who doesn't have low pressure distillation material, and aren't lucky in fractionally freezing the oil.
And maybe a further crystallisation will work now, and achieve the purification of safrole ?