Extraction of palm oil using propane, ethanol and its mixtures as compressed solvent

This work is aimed to investigate the extraction of palm oil using pressurized ethanol and propane as solvents. The effects of temperature (293-333 K), pressure (from 10 to 20 MPa), solvent flow rate (from 1 to 5 mL/min), and composition of the solvent mixture were evaluated on the oil extraction yield, and chemical profile of the extracted oils. The experiments were conducted in a 100 mL extractor coupled to a HPLC pump for ethanol and a syringe pump for the propane displacement. Global yields up to 75 wt% were obtained in the experiments. The kinetic profiles of the extractions were described by the Sovova's model, which presented good agreement with the experimental observations. The palm oils extracted with distinct solvents were characterized regarding its density and viscosity in a temperature range from 293 to 343 K, its chemical profile determined by GC/MS, and carotenoid content. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.