Nigerian researcher Obiora Muojama led a team of engineers in developing a solvent-free microwave hydrodistillation process for extracting essential oils. They published their breakthrough in the Elsevier Journal on Wednesday. The innovation uses machine learning and optimisation techniques to boost yields while slashing environmental harm.
The team included Professor Heri Septya Kusuma from Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta in Indonesia and Professor Andrew Amenaghawon from the University of Benin. Other collaborators were Luke Arinda Febryola, Destyana Eky Rahayu, and Mahfud Mahfud from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember in Indonesia, plus Obiora Ebuka Muojama.
Muojama hailed the method as a game-changer for industries reliant on oils from plants like patchouli. Traditional steam distillation drags on for hours, guzzles energy, and spews emissions. This new approach cuts extraction time to 85 minutes and triples output compared to old ways.
Key features stand out in the technology.
- Solventless process that generates no wastewater
- Machine learning models: Artificial Neural Networks, Kernel Ridge Regression, Extreme Gradient Boosting
- Optimisation via Manta Ray Foraging algorithm and Box-Behnken design
- Optimal settings: 570 W microwave power, 1.0 g/mL feed-to-solvent ratio
- 2.949 per cent recovery rate for patchouli oil
The system emits just 0.58 kg of CO2 for every 100 grams of oil, an 80 per cent drop from conventional methods’ 1.5 to 3.0 kg. It aligns with UN climate goals and circular economy ideals, paving the way for greener perfumes, skincare, and medicines.
Muojama stressed the real-world edge from SHAP analysis, making predictions clear for factories. “This aligns directly with UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) and global trends pushing manufacturing toward low-carbon systems,” he said.
Such advances promise cleaner paths for industries that touch daily lives, easing the burden on our shared planet without sacrificing quality or speed.
