As part of a two-week Bachelor's project, two process engineering students have impressively demonstrated how scientific theory and practical application can be combined. Their topic: the extraction of natural ingredients using classic process engineering.

Using steam distillation, the two students first isolated essential oils from lavender flowers and orange peel. While the orange oil impressed with its fresh scent, they used the lavender oil for another exciting step: the production of their own soap - a successful example of the combination of chemistry, creativity and sustainability.

In addition to distillation, the students also worked with the Soxhlet extraction principle to obtain wax from cotton - a complex but effective process that shows how valuable substances can be extracted from natural materials.

The project not only offered the opportunity to learn about different extraction processes, but also to manufacture products with real-life relevance.