The results of the study suggested that natural extracts and/or essential oils can be used as effective disinfectants. The Soxhlet extractor is used for liquid-solid extractions when the compound to be extracted has limited solubility in the chosen solvent and the impurities are. The disinfectant applications statistically significantly reduced total microbial counts on salad vegetables (p < 0.05). For Escherichia coli ATCC 25933, lemon peel Clevenger extract was determined to be the most effective with a reduction of 7.37 log CFU.g(-1). Study results showed that the most effective disinfectant regarding total microbial counts was mint essential oil with a reduction of 7.56 log CFU.g(-1). Lemon peel and mint extracts used for the disinfection process were obtained by the Soxhlet extraction method while their essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of the essential oils and extracts of fresh lemon (Citrus lemon L.) peel as well as fresh and dried mint (Mentha spicata L.) leaves on certain bacteria associated with salad vegetables. When the lemongrass got heated up, the lemongrass essential oil that was extracted from the leaf mixed with the water vapor. When the water level reached 100☌ it started boiling ripping off the essential oil from the lemongrass. Effective disinfection processes are therefore important to obtain it microbiologically safe for consumption. Water at 0☌ flowed counter-currently during the condenser to condense the ensuring steam. However, some food-borne diseases are associated with the consumption of this type of raw food. Salad vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre. Journal of Food & Nutrition Research, 60(2), 146-152. Decontamination effects of lemon peel and mint leaf extracts on salad vegetables.

Soxhlet extractor lemons