Extraction of baru (Dipteryx alata vogel) seed oil using compressed solvents technology

This study reports the extraction of oil from baru (Dipteryx alata vogel) seeds using compressed propane, supercritical CO2 (scCO(2)) with ethanol as solvents and the conventional (Soxhlet) extraction using ethanol and hexane. Results indicated that the compressed propane presented the highest extraction yield (36.87%) at 10 MPa, 60 degrees C, with 10 min of confinement time and using an average particle size of 0.5 mm. Higher extraction yields were also reached using scCO(2) but the addition of ethanol as cosolvent was needed. Tocopherols and antioxidant activity in all samples presented better results in contrast with the literature. The fatty acid profile was similar for all samples, where oleic (within 50-54%), linoleic (23-25%), palmitic (around 5%), stearic (around 5%) and arachidonic acid (around 4%) are the major fatty acids found. Finally, residues of the extraction presented high content of proteins (32%). The oil obtained is very promising for food and pharmaceuticals applications.