The essential oil (EO) industry generates large volumes of solid distillation residues that are commonly discarded as waste, despite their potential as a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the chemical quality and the volatile profile of four types of exhausted biomasses (EBs) obtained after steam distillation of EOs from bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), lavandin (L. angustifolia × L. latifolia) and two industrial hemp specimens (Carifit1p, a breeding line, and Codimono, a cultivar), with a view to their potential valorisation in animal feeding. The nutritional composition of the distillation residues was determined according to AOAC methods, while the headspace volatile fraction was characterised by HS-SPME–GC/MS. The EBs were generally characterised by a high fibre content, with the highest crude fibre and NDF values in whole lavender and lavandin plants, whereas the industrial hemp line Carifit1p showed the highest crude protein (17.1% DM) and ash contents. The volatile profiles of the residues differed markedly from those typical of the corresponding fresh EOs: the bay laurel residue was dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (74.5%) with strongly depleted 1,8-cineole (1.9%), while lavender and lavandin retained high levels of β-caryophyllene (35.8% and 32.4%, respectively). Industrial hemp residues were enriched in oxygenated sesquiterpenes, with caryophyllene oxide reaching 21.2% in Carifit1p and exceeding β-caryophyllene. Overall, the results indicate that EO exhausted biomasses retain a species-specific profile of fibre, residual nutrients and less volatile, less water-soluble terpenoids, supporting their potential reuse as feed ingredients and contributing to a more sustainable, near-zero-waste distillation supply chain.
Exploiting Exhausted Biomasses from Essential Oil Distillation in Animal Feeding: Chemical Characterisation and Volatile Profile of Laurel Bay (Laurus nobilis), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Lavandin (L. angustifolia × L. latifolia), and Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa)
Altomonte, Iolanda
;Ascrizzi, Roberta
;Bozzini, Maria Francesca;Martini, Mina;Salari, Federica;Ferrara, Marco;Fratini, Filippo;Chericoni, Silvio;Stefanelli, Fabio;Borghi, Alessandra;Paris, Roberta;Montanari, Massimo;Flamini, Guido
2026-01-01
Abstract
The essential oil (EO) industry generates large volumes of solid distillation residues that are commonly discarded as waste, despite their potential as a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the chemical quality and the volatile profile of four types of exhausted biomasses (EBs) obtained after steam distillation of EOs from bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), lavandin (L. angustifolia × L. latifolia) and two industrial hemp specimens (Carifit1p, a breeding line, and Codimono, a cultivar), with a view to their potential valorisation in animal feeding. The nutritional composition of the distillation residues was determined according to AOAC methods, while the headspace volatile fraction was characterised by HS-SPME–GC/MS. The EBs were generally characterised by a high fibre content, with the highest crude fibre and NDF values in whole lavender and lavandin plants, whereas the industrial hemp line Carifit1p showed the highest crude protein (17.1% DM) and ash contents. The volatile profiles of the residues differed markedly from those typical of the corresponding fresh EOs: the bay laurel residue was dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (74.5%) with strongly depleted 1,8-cineole (1.9%), while lavender and lavandin retained high levels of β-caryophyllene (35.8% and 32.4%, respectively). Industrial hemp residues were enriched in oxygenated sesquiterpenes, with caryophyllene oxide reaching 21.2% in Carifit1p and exceeding β-caryophyllene. Overall, the results indicate that EO exhausted biomasses retain a species-specific profile of fibre, residual nutrients and less volatile, less water-soluble terpenoids, supporting their potential reuse as feed ingredients and contributing to a more sustainable, near-zero-waste distillation supply chain.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
