In this work, the evaluation of methyl chavicol enrichment from basil essential oil was carried out using short path evaporation. The evaluation was performed by experimental design using response surface methodology. Evaporator temperature (from 28 to 112 degrees C), condenser temperature (from -8.4 to 8.4 degrees C), and feed flow rate (from 8.3 to 21.7 ml/min) were the studied factors. The results showed that it is possible to increase methyl chavicol concentration up to 89.79% from basil essential oil using a short path evaporator. Process analysis showed that a quadratic model is adequate to describe methyl chavicol concentration using short path evaporation and that evaporator temperature was the unique statistically significant variable of the process. Maximum methyl chavicol concentration was obtained using evaporator temperature at 70 degrees C. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.