Fatty acid composition and oxidation stability of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed oil extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) was employed to extract oil from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds. For ground seeds, the supercritical extraction was carried out at temperatures of 40, 60 and 80 °C and pressures of 300 and 400 bar. Different solvent-ratios were applied. Supercritical CO2 extractions were compared with a conventional technique, n-hexane in Soxhlet. The extraction yields, fatty acid composition of the oil and oxidation stability were determined. The seed samples used in this work contained 81% PUFAs, of which 59.6% was linoleic acid (ω-6), 3.4% γ-linolenic (ω-3), and 18% α-linolenic (ω-6). The highest oil yield from seeds was 22%, corresponding to 72% recovery, at 300 bar and 40 °C and at 400 bar and 80 °C. The highest oxidation stability corresponding to 2.16 mM Eq Vit E was obtained at 300 bar and 80 °C.

► Optimization of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SC-CO2) operating conditions (T, P and Q) for hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds.
► The highest oil yield was 22%, corresponding to 72% recovery, at 300 bar and 40 °C and at 400 bar and 80 °C.
► The highest oxidation stability, corresponding to 2.16 mM Eq Vit E was obtained at 300 bar and 80 °C.
► 81% PUFAs, of which 59.6% linoleic acid (w-6), 3.4% g-linolenic (w-3) and 18% a-linolenic (w-6) was the seed composition.