Analytical method for lavender oil quality assessment

Keywords

lavender oil, Lavandula angustifolia, qualitative analysis

Applications

Essential oil extracted from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has many benefits and uses in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries. Currently, the global oil lavender market is estimated at over 75 M € / year, with a high rate of growth due to demand exceeding supply. The quality of the oil helps growers to choose the right variety depending on the geographical area and climatic conditions. Quality analyzes are also important in the capitalization stage of lavender oils because each species must be used depending on its particularities.

Innovative aspects

Lavender oil has a very complex chemical composition, with up to 118 different identified components, their proportion depends very much on the variety of the plant and its geographical origin. The quality of the product is directly related with both, the concentration of the predominant components (linalyl acetate and linalool), and as well the minor components (camphor). The method implemented by us accurately provides the chemical composition of each product, which will lead to a higher harneses of lavender oils.

Technology

In order to quantify these components with high accuracy, between 96-99%, we implemented a new analytical method which combines gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Benefits

• The analytical method (GC-MS) is fast and high sensitivity for separation and quantification of compounds of interest in lavender oil
• Provides information necessary for the profitability of lavender crops
• Allows superior use of lavander oil

Result sheet

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