Essential Oil Extraction: Being Green and Emerging Technologies

The essential oil extraction industry responds for a significant role as a raw material supplier to the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and cleaning product segments. These oils are produced mainly via steam distillation in small businesses, applying systems with broad opportunities when technology is concerned. This paper aims to present the technological features to optimize extraction effectiveness (yield) and energy consumption. The answer to the question in the title involves improvement proposals to green extraction and the impact on business. This study is the continuation of the one previously published in the number 3/2021 of this Journal, entitled “Essential Oil Steam Distillation: Manufacturing 4.0”.