US 11,702,615 B1
Microwave extraction of essential oils
John F. Hart, Lockport, IL (US)
Assigned to CHEMTECH SERVICES, INC., Lockport, IL (US)
Filed by Chemtech Services, Inc., Lockport, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/690,799.
Int. Cl. C11B 1/10 (2006.01); C11B 1/04 (2006.01); B01D 5/00 (2006.01); B01D 1/00 (2006.01); C11B 9/02 (2006.01)
CPC C11B 1/10 (2013.01) [B01D 1/0023 (2013.01); B01D 5/0027 (2013.01); B01D 5/0057 (2013.01); C11B 1/04 (2013.01); C11B 9/02 (2013.01); B01D 1/0017 (2013.01); B01D 5/003 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of extracting an essential oil from plant matter, the method comprising:
providing plant matter to an interior of an extraction vessel, wherein composition of the plant matter includes at least one essential oil;
using at least one vacuum pump to reduce the pressure within the interior of the extraction vessel with the plant matter therein to an absolute pressure of less than 1.0 mm Hg absolute pressure;
applying microwave energy to the plant matter that is within the extraction vessel while the interior of the extraction vessel is under the reduced pressure, wherein a combination of the reduced pressure and the microwave energy creates a vapor comprising at least a portion of the essential oil contained within the plant matter provided inside of the extraction vessel;
directing the vapor that comprises at least a portion of the essential oil from the extraction vessel to at least one condenser means; and
condensing the vapor to a liquid state such that the vapor comprises at least a portion of the essential oil, by utilizing the at least one condenser means, to at least one liquid including the essential oil.