PENINGKATAN KADAR PATCHOULI ALCOHOL DALAM PEMURNIAN MINYAK NILAM DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE DISTILASI VACUM DENGAN VARIASI REFLUK (Enhancement of Patchouli Alcohol Degree in Purification Patchouli Using Distillation Vacuum Metode with Reflux Variations )

Patchouli oil is an essential oil obtained in Patchouli plants (Pogostemon cablin Benth) is an essential oil with the main components Patchouli alcohol, patchoulene, azulene, pogostol, norpaculenol, nortetrapaculol, seyselen, kariofilen, and sesquiterpen class. Which has benefits in the pharmaceutical world, aromatherapy (perfume industry). The distribution of patchouli plants is spread throughout Indonesia and has a promising potential in the international industry. However, Patchouli alcohol traded in the market has a 20% level while the required in the industry with 30% levels so that it takes the purification of patchouli Alcohol levels. This research used Re-distillation method with vacuum distillation apparatus. The goal is to study the redistillation method to increase PA levels on patchouli oil and vacuum distillation and to increase PA levels and obtain optimum reflux operating conditions from the process. The research was done with alcohol solvent and patchouli oil that its PA concentration is still in the process. The fixed operating conditions are Temperature 120oC, Time 60 minutes after the temperature is reached for the collection of distillate volume and reflux volume, and vacuum pressure ie Pressure 0,4719 atm (358,6735 mmHg). With the variable Reflux 1/4 (5 ml), Reflux 1/2 (10 ml), Full Reflux (15 ml) The result obtained can be used to determine the optimum condition of the Re-Distillation process of patchouli oil from the distillation of vacuum by volume Patchouli The largest alcohol is 29.9, and the largest eugenol content is 29.9%, then the optimum condition with full reflux (15ml), with the color of patchouli alcohol product Yellow yellow. Keywords: patchouli oil, Patchouli alkoholl, Re-distillation, vacuum distillatio