Conclusion
The aim of this paper was to explore the feasibility of a simple and low-cost portable microwave oven combined with a miniatur- ized alembic to extract natural products and especially essential oils directly in a crop or a forest. This original portable microwave assisted extraction provides a fast in-field information about the content of essential oils in fresh natural samples and offers impor- tant advantages over traditional hydrodistillation technique: it is quicker (less than 15 min), effective and involves an environmen- tally friendly approach, with a reduced consume of energy and reagents. The PMAE apparatus can provide instant results on crop without the need to wait for the transport from the forest to the lab, the sample preparation, analysis and data evaluation. More- over, PMAE could be employed as a laboratory exercise which easily teaches Green Analytical Chemistry. This PMAE apparatus allows obtaining essential oils similar to those obtained by conventional methods and successfully incorporates green analytical chemistry principles into the educational practical lessons.