Solvent extraction of vegetable oils: Numerical and experimental study

A process for the extraction of vegetable oils from soybean seeds with a solvent was developed experimentally. The extraction was carried out in a continuous, fixed-bed extractor. A non-dimensional transient model was applied to simulate the mass transfer process which occurs during the extraction in a packed bed column. The governing dimensionless differential equations were numerically solved using the method of finite volumes. The numerical results were compared with data obtained from the experimental extraction, presenting good agreement. The values obtained numerically for the total oil mass extracted in the fluid phase presented a maximum error of 20%, when compared to the experimental data. The greatest discrepancy was observed at the end of the extraction. This maximum error can be considered small due to the use of a simple numerical model.

► A process for the extraction of vegetable oils from soybean seeds was developed. ► The extraction with a solvent was carried out in a fixed-bed extractor. ► A transient model to simulate the behavior of fixed-bed extractor was presented. ► The governing equations were numerically solved using the finite volume method. ► The model predicted, with good agreement, the behavior of the extraction process.