Optimization of Solvent Oil Extraction from Sandbox (Hura crepitans Linn.) Seeds

Abstract

Due to increasing demand for food, industrial applications and biodiesel production on vegetable oils, optimization of oil extraction processes has become imperative to obtain maximum oil yield from vegetable oil feedstocks. The effect of process factors: moisture content, roasting temperature, and time, extraction temperature, and time on oil yield from sandbox seed by solvent extraction were investigated using a 5 × 5 Central Composite Rotatable (Experimental) Design of Response Surface Methodology. Results obtained were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and SPSS statistical tool at (p = 0.05). The optimum conditions predicted were validated by experiments. The American Oil Chemists’ Society AOCS 5-04 standard procedure for solvent extraction was used in the experiment. The oil yield from the sandbox seed ranged from 20.9-53.6%, and was increased at the range (6-10%) moisture content, (80-100°C) roasting temperature, (5-15 min) roasting time, (90-100°C) extraction temperature and (90-150 min) extraction time. The optimum oil yield of 53.6% was obtained at the processing conditions of 10.0% moisture content, 95oC roasting temperature, 15 min roasting time, 65oC extraction temperature, and 90 min extraction time. Mathematical models to predict sandbox seed oil yield at varying process conditions were developed with an R2 (0.81). The optimum extractable oil yield of 57.10% was predicted for sandbox seed at processing conditions of 10.25% moisture content, 98.72oC roasting temperature, 17.63 min roasting time, 67.01oC extraction temperature, and 96.6 min extraction time. The study results provide data for equipment and process designs for oil extraction from the sandbox and other oilseeds.