With increasing demand, there has been an emergence of new processes for extraction of tea tree oil. In the early 1980s, when tea tree oil started gaining momentum in the market, not many processes apart from traditional steam distillation were there for extraction. But now, the scenario has changed completely. TTO manufacturers have come up with new extraction processes in order to cater to the globally growing demand both for personal and commercial use.
Tea tree oil has been among the most searched natural ingredient and one of the top essential oils for consumers according to a report published by Mintel Research. The report also states that there has been an increase in the usage of tea tree oil in new products manufacturing by 22 per cent.
“More mainstream companies are incorporating tea tree oil in their products in new ways: for example P&G’s head & Shoulders brand now features tea tree. Colgate Palmolive also has a new natural products line, Smile, which has tea tree and mint incorporated into the toothpaste”, mentioned Phillip Prather, Chair, Australian Tea Tree Industry Association to the media.
Let us now delve a little deeper into the various innovative processes that have emerged over the years and facilitated the process of production.
As a process, steam distillation is one of the old and traditional ones that have been used to extract organic tea tree oil and many other kinds of essential oils. The process involves steam being passed through the tea tree leaves which makes the oil glands burst that result in the release of the aromatic compounds. The collected mixture of water and oil then undergoes a process of condensation after which the water gets separated from the oil. The purest form of tea tree oil could be achieved with the perfect process of steam distillation.
In this regard, a company that is renowned for its commitment of producing premium quality tea tree oil using traditional methods such as steam distillation is Thursday Plantation based in Australia. They have a long history of expertise in tea tree oil production and offer a range of natural health and skincare products derived from tea tree oil.
Over time, the process of steam distillation evolved which involved variation in the process. Hydrodistillation is one of those variations that comprises of the usage of water during the oil extraction process. This process of extraction is specifically helpful for drawing out oil from plants having high water content e.g tea tree leaves. Hydrodistillation involves heating of water and passing the steam through the leaves which carries the oil along with it. Eventually the oil is separated from the water and the producer is able to achieve a fresh and organic product.
To give an example, a company that provides sustainable and clean solutions through hydrodistillation for extraction of tea tree oil and other oil-soluble ingredients is EcoXtract. Companies are able to avail their solutions for extraction of oil from aromatic compounds, production of natural pigments that are having a wide range of applications in cosmetics, nutraceuticals, flavors and fragrances.
An advanced process of extraction though the use of a solvent such as hexane or ethanol is known as solvent extraction. In this process, the solvent dissolves the raw materials thus creating a mixture than contains the oil. The solvent is then got rid of by means of evaporation and pure tea tree essential oil is left behind.
In this regard, a company that specializes in sourcing high-quality tea tree oil and other botanical extracts using sustainable and eco-friendly methods is Floracopeia. The company offers solvent extraction services for clients who need to extract essential oils from plant materials. It does not only focus on the production and supply of tea tree oil, but also provides customized extraction services tailored to the specific needs of clients.
Supercritical fluid extraction is one of the revolutionary and cutting-edge processes for oil extraction that make use of supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) as a solvent for the purpose of extracting tea tree oil and other essential oils from plant material. Under specific conditions of temperatures and pressures, the CO2 becomes a supercritical fluid that consists of properties of both a liquid and gas. In SFE, CO2 is used to selectively extract oil components, leaving behind other undesirable compounds.
A suitable example in this regard is Eden Labs that specializes in tea tree oil extraction and other botanical extraction solutions. The company uses supercritical CO2 for extraction of essential oils from various plant materials. It offers extraction equipment and consultancy for clients in the herbal medicine, natural products, and botanical industries.
Innovations in the extraction of tea tree oil have opened doors for harnessing its full therapeutic potential and at the same time meeting the demands of industries in need. From traditional steam distillation to advanced techniques like supercritical fluid extraction, each method offers unique advantages in terms of efficiency, yield, and oil quality.
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