The aim of this work was to assess the performance of a vacuum fractionating column for the fractionation of citronella essential oil and concentrated orange oil phase during batch mode operation at different pressures, from 20 to 1 mbar and reflux ratios from 1:1 to 10:1. Fractions from column top and bottom were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC/FID) using authentic standards of major constituents of the oils. Good fractionation results for citronella essential oil were achieved, affording complete removal of limonene, with a rich citronellal fraction and an output stream constituted mainly by citronellol and geraniol. Likewise, the use of the vacuum fractionation column allowed almost complete removal of limonene (similar to 0.7 wt% at column bottom) from the orange oil phase at the lowest operating pressure, 1 mbar, while the higher valencene content (20.5 wt%) was obtained at 10 mbar and reflux ratio of 1:1. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.