Manufacturing 4.0: Discussion on Application in the Extractive Industry of Essential Oils

Abstract

Yield uncertainties characterize the industrial extraction of essential oils. The variable plant contents, undetected and uncorrected operational issues such as production in small batches, with a significant variation in the process cycles, productivity, and quality, compromise process performance, and the value of the finished product. The technological advances of industry 4.0 provide an opportunity to achieve economic, environmental, and productivity gains, even with the wide variety of products manufactured. This study aimed at improving the performance of such processes using the pillars of industry 4.0 as a method, highlighting the techniques of data acquisition and processing for intelligent analysis, based on automated and systemic learning, generating improvements for the overall performance of the operation as well as enhancing good manufacturing practices (process safety, quality, repeatability and traceability) and supply chain management. Our findings showed the adherence of 4.0 vision to this industry.

Technology as a Pillar for Essential Oil Green Extraction

“…Variations cause undesired effects as the channeling [10] The best configuration for steam parameters will be determined for next batches.…”

Distillation of essential oils: An innovative technological approach focused on productivity, quality and sustainability

“…Essential oils (EO) are aromatic liquids and volatile substances that are obtained via extraction from various parts of plants, such as their flowers, leaves, roots, barks, fruits and seeds. Chemically, they comprise a range of fractions from the terpenoid family that exist in a homogeneous mixture, from the most volatile to the heaviest [ 1 ]. Lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus) is one of the plants most used to obtain essential oil due to its sweet and attractive aroma; it is therefore widely applied in the cosmetics and food industry for the development of perfumes, bath soap, tea, and cooking spices, in addition to its use in traditional medicine as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent [ 2 ].…”

“…It is common knowledge that the extraction method employed is one of the most critical factors in the process of obtaining EO. Steam distillation is widely applied in the essential oil industry, accounting for more than 93% of the oil volume produced worldwide [ 1 ]. Via the use of steam distillation, the technological scenario of the EO extraction industry confers interesting opportunities with regard to enhancements in the yield, quality, energy efficiency, and operational effectiveness [ 6 ].…”