KARAKTERISTIK MINYAK ATSIRI DARI DAGING BUAH PALA MELALUI BEBERAPA TEKNOLOGI PROSES

Abstract

In Maluku, nutmeg and mace are considered valuable market commodities, while the pod are wasted and
left in the field. The research aimed to expand and to characterize the quality of the nutmeg-pod oil by some
process technology (methods of drying and distillation). Drying of sliced nutmeg pod either under shade, in the
sun, or using cabinet dryer were carried out followed by distillation process either using water distillation or
water-steam distillation. Physical characteristics (refraction index and solubility in 90% alcohol), myristicin
compound and oil yields of the essential oil resulted from those process combinations were analyzed. Result
indicated that the highest yield was obtained (1.65 g) from the combination of drying under shade and water
steam distillation. The refraction index and solubility in 90% ethanol of the extracted oils were all in the range
of the SNI Quality Standard. There were about 21 different components in the oil of nutmeg pod. The level of
myristicin (the valuable component) was much higher than that found in the nutmeg.