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Development of Low Cost Agarwood Essential Oil Extraction System for Agar Tree Growers in Bangladesh

Mr. M. A. Islam
MS Fellow
Department of Farm Power and Machinery Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh-2202,Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This experiment was conducted to bring in a suitable and economic agarwood oil extraction method for Agar tree (Aquilaria agollocha) growers in Bangladesh. Agarwood was collected from Fotikchori upazila of Chittagong district and a prototype of hydro-distillation extraction chamber was developed at the lab of Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during January to March 2013. Using the prototype, 7 ml of agarwood oil was extracted from 15 kg matured agarwood. It was found from the calculation that the developed system can bring yearly benefit of Tk. 7,78,389 with benefit-cost ratio as 2.33. This development was, therefore, proven very beneficial for Bangladeshi agar tree growers.

Keywords: Agar tree, Agarwood, Oil extraction, Low cost, Hydro-distillation

Location: Chittagong and Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-01-2013

End Date: 00-03-2013

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Tree

Objectives:

To develop a low cost hydro distillation system for agarwood oil extraction
To determine production by the developed system
To calculate economic benefits by it.

Methodology:

Experimental site and period- Matured agarwood was collected from Fotikchori Upazila of Chittagong district and the hydro-distillation extraction model was developed at the Farm Power and Machinery Department Lab of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during January-March, 2013. Collection of wood- A matured, artificially inoculated tree of about 15 years old was selected after observing the color of the wood by peeling off the bark. The selected tree was cut down and 15 kg matured woods were collected for the experiment. Chopping -Woods were chopped using a sharp, heavy knife into 2 to 3 inches long and 0.5 to 1 inch thin pieces for fermentation.Fermentation- Chopped woods were soaked in water in a steel drum. The water level was 3 inches above the wood layer and it was left for 40 days for fermentation. After fermentation wood chips turned black, soft and smelly. Water was also preserved for the next steps of processing. Construction of the extraction chamber: Materials used- The prototype was made by locally available cheap materials procured from local market. The materials used to construct the extraction chamber were- steel pipe (1^//, 1/2^// and 1/4^// dia.), steel flat sheet (16 SWG), C clamp, angles of steel pipe, pan, brick, polythene and gas burner. Dimensions of heating chamber-Pan diameter = 27 inches,Pan height = 18 inches,Oven height = 36 inches and C clamp = 1.5 inch (height). Dimensions of condensation chamber-Length = 8 feet,Width = 5 feet and Height = 40 inches. Heating-Fermented agarwood was divided into two equal parts, each of 7.5 kg and heated by a gas burner in two sessions.Condensation-Ice was added to the condensation chamber water to cool the steam passing through steel pipe to the collection pan. Amount measurement of extracted oil and remaining wood - Amount of collected oil was measured by a measuring cylinder and remaining wood was weighed after sun drying. Yearly Cost and benefit calculation - Total yearly production cost was calculated. Yearly income was calculated on the basis of agarwood oil and by-product wood’s market price which existed during the period of experiment.

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 12(1): 167–170, 2014, ISSN 1810-3030

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In Bangladesh contemporary agarwood oil extraction processes are very complex, comprising of expensive mechanical, solvent extraction and cold processing system. In this context, the developed hydro distillation method is much more suitable for the cultivators of Bangladesh economically and technologically. In traditional systems big investment is required for installation of extraction chamber. But this developed hydro-distillation method can bring yearly benefit of Tk 7,78,389 where the benefit-cost ratio is 2.33. Therefore, this developed oil extraction system is very prospective for agar tree growers and agarwood oil traders of Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal