Experimental Study of Distillation Equipment for Making Essential Oils from Citronella Plants using the Fractionation Column Method

In Indonesia, in general, it has a very abundant natural resource potential, one of which is lemongrass. Lemongrass still not widely cultivated this plant processed and into essential oils, will get high selling value. Currently, the development oils considerable concern Indonesian government. Of various raw materials for making material plants Indonesia that good to be developed citronella. The purpose study was examine experimentally manufacture citronella oil (Citronella oil) from leaves stems Citronella generally used health, ranging bacteria fungi, headaches, hypertension also as aromatherapy. advantage fractionation column method process separating components Constituent substances mixture solution compounds based on difference boiling points by using multilevel distillation, so produce quality with low water content. From three Tests distillation apparatus citronella, results first test much 940 ml mass 920 gr density 978.2 kg/m3, second obtained 80 70 875 third 50 714.2 kg/m3. average Test 855.8 kg / m3. combustion temperature reactor tank influential duration number come out obtained.