Steam Distillation of Eugenol from Cloves.

Introduction: This experiment involves an extraction of a natural product using the techniques of steam distillation. The principle component of oil of cloves is an aromatic compound, which is identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Eugenol is widely used in dentistry, due to its analgesic, antiseptic balsamic qualities. It is ideal for curative for pulp hyperemia (the soft, sensitive substance underneath the enamel and dentine of a tooth) and pulp its. In dentistry eugenol is …

…not 100 % closed during the time we did the thin layer chromatography. Our watch glass was not 100% efficient. Also when we were heating the liquid in the condenser, heating the liquid at a rate too high could cause excess materials to come out in the final product. Other than that, human error is a concern. This can be minimized by careful observation, and proper procedure. Still, our percent error was under 1 percent, which is very favorable.