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Parsley

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COMERG • Parsley extraction

Garden Parsley

Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss

Turn fresh parsley leaf into a bright, green, true-to-herb extract with COMERG equipment. Our cold, room-temperature, low-pressure process captures the lively, green parsley note, the p-mentha-1,3,8-triene and phellandrene that define it, with no heat to flatten the fresh top.

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21% p-mentha-triene

The herb

The Mediterranean's everyday green

Parsley, Petroselinum crispum, is the most used culinary herb around the Mediterranean, and its scent is unmistakably fresh and green. That character comes from p-mentha-1,3,8-triene and beta-phellandrene, lifted by linalool and limonene, with apiole and myristicin, the phenylpropanoids typical of parsley, giving a warm, spicy depth underneath.

We work with the fresh leaf, cut through the summer and processed cold so the bright, herbaceous top survives. Nothing is added, and the lively green character of the herb is carried straight into the extract.

Raw material

Botanical namePetroselinum crispum
SynonymApium petroselinum L.
FamilyApiaceae
Plant partLeaves
ConditionFresh, cut
HarvestMay to August

The extract

What the process delivers

Run on COMERG equipment, parsley leaf yields a standardised, true-to-herb extract, batch after batch. Because the extraction is cold and solvent-light, with no high heat, the fresh green character carries straight through to the finished oil. The figures below are typical of a standardised BPar-40.1 grade.

21%p-Mentha-1,3,8-triene
≥40%Volatile oil v/w
3.22DPPH IC50 mg/ml
<25 °CExtraction temp
~275 kgLeaves per kg extract
<0.1 g/kgSolvent residue

The method

Cold extraction, in three steps

No heat, no leftover solvent. This is what happens inside a COMERG aerosol system, and why the extract keeps the fresh, green character of parsley leaf.

1

Pressurised R134a flooding

Non-toxic liquefied R134a gas is introduced to the fresh parsley leaf at controlled, low pressure. There is no heat, the cycle begins and stays at room temperature.

2

Selective aromatic dissolution

The liquid gas gently dissolves the p-mentha-1,3,8-triene, the phellandrene, linalool and the phenylpropanoids, while the fresh, volatile green top notes stay structurally intact.

3

Recovery and pure extract

The R134a is fully recovered and recycled in a closed loop. What is left is a concentrated parsley extract, at least 40% volatile oil, with under 0.1 g/kg residue.

Aromatic profile

The compound fingerprint

Principal constituents identified by GC-MS, each above 1%. p-Mentha-1,3,8-triene leads, the green heart of parsley, with phellandrene, linalool and limonene, while apiole and myristicin give the warm, spicy depth.

p-Mentha-1,3,8-triene
21%
beta-Phellandrene
18%
Linalool
14%
Apiole
10%
Limonene
8%
Myristicin
7%
0%10%16%21%+

The green note sits in p-mentha-1,3,8-triene, phellandrene and limonene; apiole and myristicin are the characteristic parsley phenylpropanoids and the reason the concentrated extract is used at low levels. Other extractables present. Per-batch GC-MS report available on request.

Specification

BPar-40.1 at a glance

Identity & origin

Botanical namePetroselinum crispum
Plant partLeaves
OriginBulgaria
Product codeBPar-40.1
CAS No.On request
EINECS No.On request

Production

MethodLiquefied-gas extraction
TemperatureBelow 25 °C
SolventFood-grade (Dir. 97/60/EC)
Solvent residue< 0.1 g/kg
StandardisationDeclared volatile oil
Concentration1 kg ≈ 250-300 kg leaves

Physical

AppearanceDark green oily liquid
Volatile oil≥ 40% v/w (ASTA)
INCI namePetroselinum Crispum Extract
Density956 g/l
Refractive index1.5066
Acid value36 mg KOH/g

Solubility & handling

In oilsFully soluble
In 40% alcoholPartial
In waterInsoluble
Flash point> 54 °C
TransportDangerous good (ADR)
Shelf life2 years

Why parsley, why cold

A fresh herb, captured whole

A concentrated leaf

Petroselinum crispum, Bulgaria

Plant partFresh leaves
Leaves per kg extract~250-300 kg
Volatile oil≥ 40% v/w
AntioxidantDPPH IC50 3.22 mg/ml

Captured cold

Versus heat-based methods

p-Mentha-triene21% kept
Fresh green notePreserved
Process temperature< 25 °C
Bright top notesIntact

Applications

What you can make

Savoury seasonings Sauces & dressings Soups & stocks Savoury snacks Green fragrance notes

Parsley extract naturally contains apiole and myristicin, so the concentrated extract is used at low, culinary levels and is not recommended for use in pregnancy at high doses. It is also classed as a dangerous good for transport (flammable liquid). Like all our extracts it is a raw material for formulation. Keep away from children.

This parsley extract is edible and can be used concentrated or diluted in a carrier oil to suit the application. Typical filling rates for the concentrated extract in food are 5 to 250 mg per kilogram of product.

Why the COMERG line

Built for fresh herbs like parsley

The bright, lively green above is what the right equipment makes repeatable. Our line is engineered around the things that matter when you process a delicate, high-water leafy herb.

Room temperatureR134a aerosol extraction works cold and at low pressure, so the fresh, volatile green top notes are never cooked off.
Keeps it greenThe p-mentha-triene and phellandrene that carry parsley's fresh note come through cleanly, not flattened by heat.
Fully automatedClosed-loop systems run the cycle for you, so results stay consistent and one operator can handle the line.
Fast cycles, high yieldLow-pressure extraction is quick and recovers up to 97% of the leaf's compounds, more than older high-pressure CO2 lines.
Scales with youFrom a 10 l pilot unit to 2000 l production, the same method grows from R&D batches to full output.
Clean and economicalIt uses around 85% less energy than solvent methods and needs no special hazardous-location facility.

Why it wins

Compared to the alternatives

Against steam distillation, solvent and CO2, cold R134a extraction keeps more of the parsley, with a fresh, true-to-leaf result.

FeatureCOMERG R134aSteam distillationSolventCO₂ supercritical
Process temperature< 25 °C (room temp)100-150 °C40-70 °C31-80 °C
Aromatic preservation95%+65-80%~85%~85%
Fresh green top notesPreservedPartly lostMostly keptMostly kept
Compound recoveryup to 97%70-85%80-90%85-92%
Solvent residue< 0.1 g/kgNoneNeeds post-purgeNone
Energy use85% less vs solventHighMedium-highVery high
Special facilityNot requiredNot requiredRequiredHigh-pressure safety

From leaf to extract

The machines for parsley

A complete COMERG line takes parsley from fresh leaf to a finished extract. These are the core stages, each available as standalone equipment.

View all equipment
Product specificationFull composition, properties, packaging and handling for parsley extract BPar-40.1.
Download PDF

Questions

Parsley extraction, explained

A 100% natural parsley leaf extract from Petroselinum crispum, product code BPar-40.1. It reaches at least 40% volatile oil, led by around 21% p-mentha-1,3,8-triene with phellandrene, linalool and the parsley phenylpropanoids, and no additives.

Liquefied food-grade gas extraction at room temperature, below 25 °C, and low pressure. Because there is no high heat, the delicate aromatic compounds are preserved and solvent residue stays below 0.1 g/kg.

Parsley's freshness lives in light terpenes like p-mentha-1,3,8-triene that prolonged heat can flatten. Cold R134a extraction concentrates them cleanly, so the extract keeps its bright, true-to-leaf green character.

Roughly 1 kg of extract represents around 250 to 300 kg of fresh parsley leaf.

Yes, it is edible, with typical filling rates of 5 to 250 mg per kilogram of product. Because it contains apiole and myristicin it is used at low, culinary levels, and the concentrated extract is classed as a dangerous good for transport, so it ships under the appropriate dangerous-goods rules.

Yes. The same cold process runs from a 10 l pilot unit to 2000 l production systems, so you can start small and grow without changing method.

Yes. A per-batch GC-MS analysis is available on request, and a Safety Data Sheet per 2006/1907/EC is supplied with the product.

Set up your parsley line

Tell us your throughput and target product. We will recommend the right system, share a yield estimate for your parsley, and reply with pricing and lead time, usually within 48 hours.

COMERG extracts are raw materials for product formulation. Parsley extract contains naturally occurring apiole and myristicin and is used at low levels; it is not intended for direct consumption or for undiluted topical application, and the concentrated extract is classed as a dangerous good for transport. This information is provided to the best of our knowledge and is not a substitute for prior testing of suitability for the intended use. Keep away from children.

The parsley line

Equipment for processing parsley

The machines below make up the parsley line, the equipment that takes the leaf through to a finished extract. Request a quote on any unit and we will reply with pricing and lead time.

  • 1000L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    1000L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    An industrial-scale aerosol extraction system for very high-volume, room-temperature, residue-free processing of any botanical.

  • 100L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    100L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A commercial-scale low-pressure aerosol system that gently extracts essential oils and aromatics from any botanical at room temperature, with no residue.

  • 10L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    10L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    An entry-level, fully automated low-pressure aerosol system that gently extracts essential oils and aromatics from virtually any botanical at room temperature, with no residue.

  • 10T Conveyor Dryer System

    10T Conveyor Dryer System

    A continuous belt dryer that gently dries freshly harvested botanical biomass on a four-layer, 12 m mesh belt at an adjustable 0-90 °C, fed and discharged automatically.

  • 150L Fully Automated Compound Remediation System

    150L Fully Automated Compound Remediation System

    A production-scale system that refines large lots of botanical extract to a fixed specification at room temperature, with no thermal damage to the active profile.

  • 2000L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    2000L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    Our largest aerosol extraction platform, built for maximum-volume industrial production with the same gentle, residue-free low-pressure process.

  • 200L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    200L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A high-capacity commercial low-pressure aerosol system for room-temperature, residue-free extraction of essential oils and aromatics from any botanical.

  • 20L Aerosol Extraction System

    20L Aerosol Extraction System

    A compact production-scale low-pressure aerosol system that gently extracts essential oils and aromatics from any botanical at room temperature, with no residue.

  • 20L MAX HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    20L MAX HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A dual-vessel 20L MAX system that doubles throughput while keeping the same gentle, room-temperature, residue-free aerosol extraction for any botanical.

  • 25L Fully Automated Compound Remediation System

    25L Fully Automated Compound Remediation System

    A pilot-scale system that scales a validated remediation method to repeatable batches, stripping targeted impurities from extract while protecting the active profile.

  • 30L Ultrasonic Extraction System

    30L Ultrasonic Extraction System

    A 30L ultrasonic-assisted extraction system that uses 20 kHz cavitation to rupture plant cells and release oils into solvent quickly, at low temperature, with vacuum filtration.

  • 500L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    500L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A large-scale industrial aerosol system delivering high-volume, room-temperature, residue-free botanical extraction at low pressure.

  • 500L Vacuum Drying Oven with Drawer

    500L Vacuum Drying Oven with Drawer

    A production-scale 18 cu ft vacuum oven with a pull-out drawer and integrated pump that purges and dries large batches of botanical extract at low temperature.

  • 50L Crystallization Reactor

    50L Crystallization Reactor

    A 50L jacketed reactor that crystallises high-purity botanical isolates from a distilled feed under precise temperature and agitation control, with repeated recrystallisation for maximum purity.

  • 50L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    50L HTE Fully Automated Aerosol Extraction System

    A floor-standing production-scale low-pressure aerosol system that gently extracts essential oils and aromatics from any botanical at room temperature, with no residue.

  • 50L Vacuum Drying Oven

    50L Vacuum Drying Oven

    A compact 2 cu ft vacuum oven that purges residual solvent and gently dries botanical extracts at low temperature under vacuum, protecting colour, aroma and actives.