Distillation Process of the Eucalyptus Oil From Gum Trees
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Eucalyptus Trees
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The eucalyptus, or gum tree, is a member of the myrtle family that grew indigenously in Australia but has spread throughout the world due to its popularity. It is distinguished by its smooth, gray bark, evergreen leaves, and height, growing up to 230 feet. For many years it has been known for its acidic substances and aromatic oils, which have been used for medicinal and aesthetic purposes. Like the other members of the myrtle family, most of the oil is found in the eucalyptus leaves, which are harvested and processed.
Oil
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The credit for spreading the properties of the eucalyptus is generally given to Baron Ferdinand von Müller, a botanist who praised its aromatic and medicinal qualities in the mid-1800s. Originally, eucalyptus oil was derived by a simple process in which fresh leaves were cut from the tree, crushed, and mixed with a water solution. This mixture was used aromatically, while the medicinal oils extracted were not as plentiful or as popular, but covered a wide variety of medicinal properties, and were used as an antiseptic, expectorant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, deodorant, diuretic and antispasmodic.
Some of the eucalyptus oil also found a use as an aid in mining operations. If the oil was used when examining mined substances, certain ores would naturally surface in it, giving miners clues as to the mineral content of the nearby rock and where veins of certain ores might be located.
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Distilling the Oil
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Today, more than 25 species of eucalyptus trees are known for their oil properties, each with a different oil content, and some are more prized for specific oils than others. The modern technique of harvesting the oil begins with cutting off the mature leaves and stem tips from the tree, and then subjecting them to a steaming process. The steam and pressure draw the oil out from the leaves and distill it in a harvestable form. It is separated from the water and then taken to the next stage.
The oil originally gained from the steam distillation process is dark and still filled with many biological compounds, which can cause it to deteriorate quickly and lose its aromatic or medicinal properties. In order to separate the pure oil from the contaminants so that it can last longer, the oil is purified and combined with other preserving chemicals before it is sold.
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