“Optimizing Agarwood Chips for Maximum Oil Yield”
Before the hydrodistillation process can begin, proper preparation of Aquilaria wood material is crucial. This module details how to select, process, and condition agarwood chips to maximize the yield and quality of essential oil extracted.
A. Wood Selection: Choosing the Right Agarwood
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Inoculated Agarwood | Wood from trees that underwent artificial induction (e.g., BarIno™ BioFusion™). Preferred due to higher resin content. |
| Naturally Infected Wood | Found in older trees; contains high-grade resin but limited availability. |
| Resinous Parts Only | Focus on dark, dense, and fragrant sections. Avoid plain, non-resinous sapwood. |
✅ Note: Properly induced trees (18–36 months post-inoculation) have higher oil yield than uninfected or immature samples.
B. Chipping and Size Reduction
| Preparation Step | Ideal Specification | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Debarking | Remove outer bark and soft tissues | Prevents contaminants and water absorption |
| Chipping | Cut into 2–5 cm chips | Increases surface area for steam penetration |
| Grinding (optional) | 0.5–2 cm coarse particles | Used for fine extraction or experimental batches |
Tools Used:
- Manual machetes or axes (for small-scale)
- Motorized wood chippers (for larger operations)
- Stainless steel grinders (if fine particle size is needed)
C. Soaking / Moisture Conditioning (Optional)
| Soaking Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 12–24 hours in clean water | Softens the wood and enhances steam permeability |
| Soaking in salt solution (0.5–1% NaCl) | Traditional method to boost oil recovery in resinous chips |
Avoid over-soaking, which may leach out water-soluble aromatic compounds.
D. Drying the Wood (if soaked)
- Shade-dry the chips for 1–2 days before use
- Ensure chips are not dripping wet before placing in the boiler
- Excess moisture can cause dilution and uneven distillation
E. Quality Inspection Checklist
| Criteria | Acceptable Range |
|---|---|
| Color | Deep brown to black with visible resin veins |
| Odor | Strong, pleasant woody scent when crushed |
| Texture | Dense, slightly oily, not powdery |
| Insect damage / rot | None or minimal |
Only chips passing the above should be processed. Segregate poor-quality materials for compost or incense powder.
F. Storage of Prepared Chips
- Store in sealed, dry containers away from moisture and light
- Label with batch info, source tree, and date of chipping
- Use within 2–3 weeks for best yield
Summary
High-quality raw material = High-grade agarwood oil.
Proper chip size, resin content, and conditioning directly influence the amount and quality of oil produced in hydrodistillation.