The next time you relax at the spa, you just might be using an essential oil that has been processed using technology that came from Oregon State. Since June of 2012, retired Chemical Engineering Professor and Linus Pauling Chair David Hackleman has been working with Jonathan Lebsack (’10 BS and ’12 MS Chemical Engineering) and Bill Dean, a retired HP employee, to create a system that revolutionizes the extraction process for small quantities of essential oils and plant materials. Current extraction technology uses steam distillation and can take between four and six hours. Using large-scale microwave applicators, the new device reduces the process time to 15 minutes.
The inventors have recently applied for a patent and have already made inroads into industry. Their technology’s first application was at a botanical research lab in Independence, Ore., called Premier Botanicals, operated by an Oregon State alumnus. Other people using their device include chemistry educators who want to teach distillation and mint farmers who want to know when to harvest.
Hackleman’s work has not gone unnoticed, with a booth at the da Vinci Days’ “Green Innovations” area. He and his co-inventors have also been invited to exhibit at the Oregon State Fair in the “Heart of the Garden Building” to share their discoveries.
Hackleman’s invention is just one example of engineering faculty who participate in outside research to create spinoffs that contribute to the area’s economic development. With a little time, this streamlined extraction process may become standard for soaps, recipes, essential oils, and more.