EFFECT OF DRYING TECHNIQUES ON MOISTURE CONTENT AND ESSENTIAL OIL YIELD OF CLOVE AND NUTMEG
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47701/3p1pds28Keywords:
Clove, Nutmeg, Vacuum drying, Essential oil yield, GC/FIDAbstract
Drying is an important postharvest process that affects
moisture content, simplicia stability, and essential oil yield
of aromatic materials. This study aimed to evaluate the
effects of sun drying, hot-air/oven drying, and vacuum
drying on moisture content and essential oil yield of clove
(Syzygium aromaticum) and nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
simplicia, and to relate the moisture content and essential
oil yield results to GC/FID and GC-MS chemical profile
benchmarks from previous studies. Clove and nutmeg
simplicia were identified macroscopically and
organoleptically, subjected to phytochemical screening,
and dried using three drying methods. The dried simplicia
were extracted by steam distillation, and essential oil yield
was calculated based on oil weight relative to dried
simplicia weight. Data were analyzed using mean±standard
deviation, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's HSD test. The
results showed that all drying methods reduced moisture
content to below 10%. Vacuum drying produced the lowest
moisture content in clove (8.63±0.25%) and nutmeg
(8.53±0.25%), and the highest essential oil yield in clove
(13.33±0.15%) and nutmeg (6.60±0.10%). Hot-air/oven
drying produced the lowest yield. GC benchmark data
indicated eugenol as the main marker of clove oil, while
myristicin and monoterpenes were more relevant for
nutmeg oil. Statistical analysis supported significant
differences in yield among treatments, whereas chemical
quality still requires confirmation using actual
chromatographic analysis. Vacuum drying may be the most
promising method for processing clove and nutmeg
simplicia, particularly in terms of essential oil recovery and
controlled postharvest quality.
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