Enzyme-assisted hexane extraction of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Bail.) Pierre ex Pax seeds oil

The effects of an enzymatic pretreatment with a protease and a cellulase in the Ricinodendron heudelotii seeds oil extraction process were studied. This was done in a factorial experiment involving three enzyme concentrations and three treatment times for each enzyme. Measured variables were oil extraction yield and quality. Enzymatic hydrolysis significantly (P < 0.05) increased the oil extraction yield. The highest improvement was obtained for R. heudelotii seeds treated with Protamex (Protease) which gave 15% (w/w) increase. Notwithstanding the increase in free fatty acids, mono, diglycerides, peroxide and acid values, the quality of the oil was not significantly (P < 0.05) altered by the enzymatic treatments, suggesting the possibility of using enzyme-assisted oil extraction methods to improve upon R. heudelotii processing.