Extraction of oil and β-sitosterol from peach (Prunus persica) seeds using supercritical carbon dioxide

• Phytosterols in oils extracted from Prunus persica seeds by supercritical CO2.
• β-Sitosterol is beneficial to human health.
• Operating parameters were determined experimentally.
• Phytosterols were separated by saponification reaction.
• Phytosterols were determined by GC–MS.

Oil was extracted from the peach (Prunus persica) seeds by supercritical carbon dioxide. Principal phytosterols (stigmasterol, campesterol and β-sitosterol) that have been known to have cholesterol lowering properties were investigated in the extracted oil. Based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis, β-sitosterol was identified in the peach seed oil. The effects of temperature, pressure, flow rate of supercritical CO2, mean particle size of the seeds and extraction time on the amounts of extracted oil and β-sitosterol were investigated. Supercritical fluid extractions were performed in a range of 35–55 °C, 160–240 bar, 4–8 ml CO2/min, 0.3–1.7 mm and 1–4 h for mentioned parameters. The results indicated that the amounts of oil and β-sitosterol extracted from the peach seeds were optimal with values of 35.3 g/100 g seed and 1220 mg/kg seed respectively at 40 °C, 200 bar, 7 ml/min, 0.3 mm and 3 h.

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