The genus Cinnamomum

218 K. Nirmal Babu, P.N. Ravindran and M. Shylaja
35–40%
Crude camphor
Yield of oil
“B camphor”
Wood
Steam distilation
2.0–2.5%
Complete or Normal camphor oil
(Semicrystalline oil)
Filtration
Sublimation
Refined camphor
(2 nd class-BBclass)
Sublimation &
pressing
Refined camphor
(1st class)
50%
Crude
Camphor
(‘B’ Camphor)
60–55%
Crude camphor oil
Fractional distillation
46%
Camphor oil
(Decamphorized oil)
White oil 20%
Brown oil 22%
Blue oil 1%
Pitch 3%
Figure 9.4 Flow chart of camphor distillation and products (source Hiraizumi, 1950).
The yield of camphor and camphor oil from trees depends upon many factors:
1. Naturally growing trees contain more camphor and camphor oil than reforested ones.
2. Isolated trees contain more camphor and camphor oil than trees growing in dense
stands.
3. Healthy and strong trees contain more camphor and camphor oils than weak ones.
4. Old trees contain more camphor than young trees.
5. Trees growing on sandy soil contain much more camphor than trees growing in
other types of soil.
The relation between the yield of camphor, camphor oil and the age of trees is given
in Table 9.1. As a camphor tree grows older it develops fewer leaves and the root system
enlarges. The various parts of a camphor tree yield the average weight percentages of
camphor and camphor oil as given in Table 9.2.