Optimization of ultrasonic assisted extraction of oil from Moringa oleifera shelled and unshelled seeds

Abstract

This study aims to improve the extraction of oil from shelled and unshelled Moringa oleifera seeds using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The extraction parameters optimized to obtain the highest yields are the ratio of 61.5 and 58.7 ml/g petroleum ether, extraction time 20–10 min, temperature 30°C - 25 °C for shelled and unshelled seeds, respectively. Under these optimum conditions, the oil yield was in the range of 43.4 % and 36.6 %, respectively, which is in line with the prediction range of the BBD's prediction range of 42.9 %, 35.2 %. The optimized oil was analyzed to determine its properties. This study shows that the physical-chemical parameters such as acidity 1mgKOH/g - 1.75 mgKOH/g, and peroxide value 1.45 meqO2/Kg - 1.15 meqO2/Kg for, refractive index 1.46, Specific extinctions coefficients (K232) were 0.177 and 0.222, (k270) were 0.165 and 0.222, each of the shelled and unshelled seed oils, respectivel