Considerable effect of dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate in cinnamon essential oil extraction by hydrodistillation

The effect of addition of dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate in the maceration step, which precedes hydrodistillation, on yield and composition of the essential oil of cinnamon dried bark and cortex has been evaluated. The use of a 1 : 1 ionic liquid (IL)-water mixture permitted the improvement of the essential oil yield by about 200%. Moreover, an appreciable change in the composition of the essential oils when the IL was added was observed. Noteworthy, an enrichment in ( E )-cinnamaldehyde, the active metabolite of cinnamon essential oil, attributable to the degradation of lignin by the IL accompanied the impressive increase in essential oil yield. This paper reports an improved essential oil extraction process by hydrodistillation based on the use of an IL in the pre-treatment step.