RIRDC Completed Projects in 2000-2001 & Research in Progress as at June 2001

BACK TO INDEX

To Essential Oils Research in Progress




2.4 Essential Oils Completed Projects
PROJECT No	PROJECT TITLE	RESEARCHER	PHONE	ORGANISATION

PSE-1A	Preparation of EOPAA Newsletter	Dr Erich Lassak	(02) 9875 1894	Phytochemical Services
UT-19A	Quality stabilisation and registration of Tasmannia lanceolata extract	Prof Robert Menary	(03) 6226 2723	University of Tasmania
UT-29A	Best practice in peppermint oil production in Australia - extension	Dr C Read & Prof R Clark	(03) 6226 2619	University of Tasmania
VMP-2A	Maximising of yield and productivity of peppermint through double harvesting	Mr Fred Bienvenu	(03) 5731 1222	DNRE (Vic)
VOO-1A	Development of an onion oil industry in Tasmania	Prof R C Menary, Mr M J Gregory & Ms R Walker	(03) 6226 2723	University of Tasmania


 

Project Title	Preparation of EOPAA Newsletter
RIRDC Project No.:	PSE-1A
Start Date:	15/05/97
Finish Date:	30/11/99
Researcher:	Dr. Erich Lassak
Organisation:	Phytochemical Services 254 Quarter Sessions Road WESTLEIGH NSW 2120
Phone:	(02) 9875 1894
Fax:	(02) 9875 1791
Objectives	· To bring together growers, producers, traders, researchers and users of essential oils and of certain plant related natural products by the dissemination of information which will stimulate the growth and development of Australian industries based on these products.
Background	The Australian essential oils industry is somewhat fragmented and communication amongst producers and traders could be improved. The objective of the Newsletter of the Essential Oil Producers’ Association of Australia (EOPAA) is to facilitate better communication in the industry and thereby assist further development of the industry.
Outcomes	Six newsletters were produced over the life of the project. Material covered EOPAA matters, industry developments, reports on meetings of interest to the industry, research issues, legislative and regulatory matters, forthcoming events and publications.


 
 

Project Title:	Quality stabilisation and registration of Tasmannia lanceolata extract
RIRDC Project No:	UT-19A
Researcher:	Prof. Robert Menary
Organisation:	University of Tasmania School of Agricultural Science GPO Box 252-54 HOBART TAS 7001
Phone:	(03) 6226 2723
Fax:	(03) 6226 7609
Email:	r.menary@utas.edu.au
Objectives	· The major objective of this project was to make substantial progress towards registration of the solvent extract of Tasmannia lanceolata with an internationally recognised body such as FEMA (Flavour and Extract Manufacturers’ Association) in the United States. This involves a study of the variability within a native stand of trees, environmental degradation work and the negotiations for commissioning of toxicological tests. · The clone library is to be maintained.
Background	The solvent extract of Tasmannia lanceolata has attracted the attention of major flavour and fragrance houses, but has been largely unsaleable due to lack of buyer confidence in the safety of the product. A preliminary submission has been made to FEMA for inclusion of the GRAS (generally recommended as safe) list. Among the factors that were provided were chemical and physical data, estimated usage levels and demonstration of historical precedent. This submission recommended that further toxicological studies be carried out, and that the variability within the source population be documented. Safrole has been identified as a carcinogen. However, there is an abundance of low safrole clones available.
Research	Part of the present work entailed continuation of the investigation into the chemistry of the extract. A study was conducted into the variability of composition, including safrole levels, within a native stand of Tasmannia lanceolata. Negotiations were entered into with flavour companies, that held an interest in funding toxicological studies and laboratories and were able to carry out such tests. Environmental breakdown of the extract was studied.
Outcomes	The variability work showed that there is suitable genetic material for propagation and eventual establishment of clonal plantations. Within a given population there are 65% of trees that have a low safrole level.  Environmental degradation is rapid in soil, with all major components being undetectable by GC after a period of eight weeks. A pre-submission review was conducted by FEMA, from which the recommendation to carry out further toxicological tests was made. Negotiations were initiated with ICP Firefly in Sydney, and Citrus and Allied in the United States, but no further progress has been made to date. The clone library has been established and maintained at the Horticultural Research Centre. It houses 63 of the most distinctive and high yielding clones, along with a further fourteen alternative selections. A product sheet and Material Safety Data Sheet have been developed. The extract has a CAS number: 183815-52-3
Implications	The implications of successful registration are access to this novel flavour product by users who may apply it to a wide range of foods. It may also be used commercially as an insecticide in the organic food industry or as an anti-fouling agent for marine applications. Its’ spicy character may also lend it to inclusion in fragrance formulations.


 

Project Title:	Best practice in pep permint oil production in Australia - extension
RIRDC Project No:	UT-29A
Researcher:	Dr Chris Read and Professor Rob Clark
Organisation:	University of Tasmania GPO Box 252-54 Hobart TAS 7001
Phone:	(03) 6226 2619
Fax:	(03) 6226 2642
Email:	rob.clark@utas.edu.au
Objectives	· To deliver to industry the peppermint management system devised in the previous research project.
Background	An earlier RIRDC project No. UT–16A, identified a lack of practical, information-based management advice, and developed a concise management handbook and crop management system.
Research	Peppermint producers require a scientifically based framework for managing peppermint crops for oil production if they are to approach the international benchmarks for oil yield. Technical advice was compiled and interpreted in a technical manual and a data collection and recording system, located on a web-mounted database, was prepared and tested on a small group of growers and their production company.
Outcomes	Tasmanian growers and field officers considered the concept useful and plan to incorporate the website (entitled 'Peppermint Growers') into their management loop. The system is less applicable where agronomic management and corporate planning reside with one person. However the technical manual and the ‘checkpoint’ concept for crop management should be applicable in any commercial mint production framework.
Implications	Peppermint requires favourable circumstances with respect to at least two of the following: management, site parameters and climate. The latter two matters are influenced most by choice of site and region, and for established Australian producers both are potentially problematic - particularly climate in Tasmania, where favourable warm to hot seasons cannot be assumed, and in Victoria where soil conditions at the main production sites are less than ideal.  For this reason, the third component of the production system - management - must be promoted to the highest level. Growers must monitor, and as far as possible regulate, agronomic parameters such as soil moisture, nutrient status, weed and pest populations. Strategies for achieving this must be prepared with input from a variety of sources, and the results carefully recorded. A communication and documentation system, such as the one proposed in this project, must be included in planning for peppermint production in Australia if yields approaching those regarded as usual in the USA are to be achieved on a regular and sustainable basis.


 

Project Title:	Maximising of Yield and productivity of Peppermint through Double Harvesting
RIRDC Project No.:	VMP-2A
Researcher:	Fred Bienvenu
Organisation:	DNRE (Vic) Ovens Research Station PO Box 235 MYRTLEFORD VIC 3737
Phone:	(03) 5731 1222
Fax:	(03) 5731 1223
Email:	fred.bienvenu@nre.vic.gov.au
Objectives	· Sustainable crop management of nutritional practices which maximise yield and productivity of peppermint through double harvesting under Victorian conditions. · Establishment of major market reaction to double-cut Australian Peppermint oils.
Background	This research was commenced to examine the potential to maximise the yield and productivity of peppermint crops through the use of double harvest. Previous results have shown quality of oil from the first and second cut can be satisfactorily produced but obtaining the necessary yield in the second cut has been shown to be a problem. The importance of crop nutrition on yield of peppermint oil produced in double harvest systems has been clearly shown in the early studies.
Research	Results show the quality of oil from an early first and a late second harvest can be satisfactorily produced from a qualitative point of view. Obtaining the necessary yield increase to justify the increased production and distillation costs remains a problem. This lack of yield increase, coupled with a reduction in the following years oil production, caused by the rootstock depletion, makes this practice only of use when a speciality peppermint oil quality is in demand and where it can be sold at oil prices which override the associated yield problems. The importance of crop nutrition on the yield of peppermint oil produced in single and double harvest systems has been clearly shown.
Outcomes	Further increases of productivity in peppermint oil fields will not necessarily be found through the practice of double harvesting in south eastern Australia. However, peppermint oil quality can be manipulated through varying agronomic practices that could enable producers to enter new or more specialised markets.
Implications	Using double harvest agronomic techniques, the project has demonstrated the ability to produce peppermint oil to suit a wider range of clients. The resultant peppermint oils may be better suited to today’s blending and oil engineering practices in the international peppermint industry.


 

Project Title:	Development of an onion oil industry in Tasmania
RIRDC Project No:	VOO-1A
Researcher:	Prof R C Menary, Mr M J Gregory and Ms R Walker
Organisation:	University of Tasmania School of Agricultural Science Box 252/54 HOBART TASMANIA 7001
Phone:	(03) 6226 2723
Fax:	(03) 6226 7609
Email:	r.menary@utas.edu.au
Objectives	· To produce commercial grade onion oil from waste onions by developing fermentation and extraction technology capable of producing oil which meets the demands and specifications of international markets.
Background	The distillation of oil from the significant tonnage of onions that are discarded as waste from the export onion industry in Northern Tasmania each year presents a potential opportunity to both produce a commodity valued on international markets and to solve the environmental problem of waste disposal.
Research	The processes and technology of onion oil production are closely guarded by international producers and in order to facilitate a viable industry in Tasmania, a comprehensive understanding of the different aspects of onion flavour chemistry and the physiology is required. This report presents such a review in order to illustrate the complexity of factors effecting the biosynthesis of oil in onions and from this summary the particular aspects identified as worthy of experimental investigation were identified. The experimental work covered in a broad range of aspects effecting the biosynthesis of oil, from the sulphur nutrition of the source crops to optimisation of the onion storage, pre-fermentation treatments prior to distillation. The potential for improving the post-distillation recovery of oil was also investigated.
Outcomes	The results demonstrate that given sufficient ongoing sulphur availability for the source crops and a reasonable level of control over the storage conditions and pre-distillation treatment of the waste onions, bulb material with sufficiently high oil content should be available for distillation. Furthermore, with an investment in the appropriate separation technology, recovery of the oil fractions to give commercially viable yields and quality of product would be achievable.
Implications	Processing of waste onions for oil production is the first step in removing environmental hazards from onions. The remaining marc has value as stack food. The oil produced is a high value product, which has demand in international markets.