Fecha de publicación: -- Fuente: WIPO "essential oil or extracts" The present invention relates to an efficient and improved hydro distillation process for extraction of essential oil from peel of Citrus species using choline chloride: organic acid (1:1) based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent [NADES] as a co-solvent for enhancement of the essential oil [EO] yield. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved hydro distillation process for the extraction of essential oil [EO] from the four Citrus species (Citrus reticulata, Citrus limetta, Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis) using choline chloride: organic acid (1:1) based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent [NADES] as co-solvent approach. The Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent [NADES] co-solvent based approach in conventional hydro distillation process enhances the essential oil [EO] yield 2-5 times compared to conventional hydro distillation in peels of different Citrus species i.e. Citrus reticulata, Citrus limetta, Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis. The natural deep eutectic solvent assisted hydro distillation (NADES-AHD) process is environmentally sustainable, economical, easy to use with enhanced essential oil [EO] extraction tendency.