Terpene and Sesquiterpene Hydrocarbons in the Essential Oil from Fresh Celery

SUMMARY: The terpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in celery essential oil that was recovered by two different methods were separated from the oxygen containing materials by column chromatography and analyzed by temperature-programmed gas chromatography. The essential oils were prepared from celery puree by a batch distillation procedure, and by vaporization in a Votator Turba-Film evaporator and rectification of the vapors in a packed distillation column. The terpenes α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene, limonene, γ-terpinene and cymene; and the sesquiterpenes β-elemene, β-caryophyllene, α- and β-humulene and β-selinene were identified as constituents of the essential oils. The qualitative and quantitative relationships of the hydrocarbons between the two different oils were established and discussed.