Abstract: ObjectiveIn order to improve the yield of coriander seed oil and purify the important component linalool,sub-critical extract of coriander seed oil was isolated and purified by molecular distillation technique.MethodThe subcritical cori-ander seed oil was separated by two-stage molecular distillation technique. The light components were collected. The separation process was optimized by orthogonal test,and the cut fraction were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).ResultDistillation temperature was the most important factor affecting separation of linalool from coriander seed oil. The optimum conditions for first stage molecular distillation were as follows:distillation temperature 55℃,distillation pressure 300 Pa,feeding rate 1.5 mL/min,scraper speed 200 r/min. Relative percentage content of linalool was 69.23%in such separa-tion technique,and the extraction rate was 2.91%. The light components of first stage molecular distillation were separated by second stage molecular distillation. The relative percentage content of linalool reached 98.15% and the extraction rate was 1.53%.Conclusion The molecular distillation techniques combined with subcritical extraction can raise the extraction rate of coriander seed oil,effectively increase linalool content in coriander seed oil and improve the smell quality of the products. Therefore this technique has a promising application prospect.