Extraction of sesame seed (Sesamun indicum L.) oil using compressed propane and supercritical carbon dioxide

This work is aimed to investigate the extraction of sesame seed (Sesamun indicum L.) oil using supercritical carbon dioxide and compressed propane as solvents. The extractions were performed in a laboratory scale unit in a temperature and pressure range of 313–333 K and 19–25 MPa for carbon dioxide and 303–333 K and 8–12 MPa for propane extractions, respectively. A 22 factorial experimental design with three replicates of the central point was adopted to organize the data collection for both solvents. The results indicated that solvent and density were important variables for the CO2 extraction, while temperature is the most important variable for the extraction yield with propane. The extraction with propane was much faster than that with carbon dioxide due to the fact that propane is a better solvent for vegetable oils compared to carbon dioxide. On the other hand, characteristics of extracted oil, its oxidative stability determined by DSC and chemical profile of constituent fatty acids determined by gas chromatography, were similar to both solvents. The mathematical modeling of the extraction kinetics using a second order kinetic presented good results for the extraction with both solvents.

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