Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction and Microencapsulation of Kaffir Lime Essential Oil Using Gelatin and Gum Arabic as Fragrances in Textiles

In this study, the hydrodistillation (HD) method and solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME)
have been used for extraction of essential oil from kaffir lime peel. The HD method was able to
extract 0.650±0.020% of kaffir lime essential oil in 3h. While SFME provided an extraction yield
of 0.615±0.021% under a microwave irradiation power of 800 W for shorter time (10min). The
chemical components were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
The peak area revealed that the main components were β-phellandrene (24.38%), D-limonene
(17.03%), β-pinene (15.69%), citronellal (12.5%), and citronellol (4.16%). The microcapsules
were prepared by complex coacervation method using Arabic gum and gelatin as the core
material. The encapsulation yield, loading capacity, and encapsulation efficiency of the
microcapsules were 76.02, 28.4, and 62.07%, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy
(SEM) and optical microscopy showed spherical-shaped microcapsules with a particle size of
4-7µm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy supported gum Arabic, gelatin, and kaffir lime
oil components into the microcapsules. Last of all, the scented microcapsules were
impregnated into textile materials. Further SEM analysis confirmed the finding to reveal that
microcapsules anchored themselves onto fibrous textile surface. Thus, this study has provided
the revelation that kaffir lime essential oil can be efficiently extracted by both HD and SFME.
High-efficiency microcapsules in the form of spherical microcapsules composed of gum Arabic
and gelatin with reasonable efficiency of the essential oil were used. The fabrication of the
essential oil microcapsules was accomplished, and the microcapsules were immobilized onto
textiles to be used as fragrance delivery systems.