(176ai) Membrane Filtration of Clove Oil Waste Residue

The possibility for utilization of Clove Oil Waste Residue from the essential oil industry by membrane filtration were studied. The most common method of the clove (Syzygium aromaticum L) oil manufacturing is hydrodistillation. During the hydrodistillation process, two main products are obtained - hydrosol (distillate) and bottom. Both residual products content small parts of essential oil, various antioxidants and other polyphenolic compounds with diverse biological activity. Huge quantities of Clove Oil Waste Residue are produced, in which the useful components in them remain unused and their disposal with the spent plant material is harmful for the environment.

Here we present evidences from the filtration of bottom residual fractions, using, X201 Polyamide-Urea TFC membrane of TriSep. In order to monitor the obtained results, the samples were investigated by HPLC analyses and antioxidant activity by DPPH method. The so called „depot“ effect of adsorbtion of target compounds in the membrane matrixes, altering both their permeances and selectivity, has been quantified in all our experiments with this type of membranes. The flux through the membrane in all four consecutive experiments did not change significantly, which is a criterion for good permeability of the membrane with respect to the operating system. Thus, it extends the time of operation and is a prerequisite for the successful application of this type of membrane for the separation and concentration of said fractions.