Premium
Hexane and heptane as extraction solvents for cottonseed: A laboratory‐scale study
Author(s) -
Conkerton E. J.,
Wan P. J.,
Richard O. A.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02542075
Subject(s) - hexane , heptane , solvent , extraction (chemistry) , cottonseed meal , chromatography , yield (engineering) , chemistry , cottonseed , organic chemistry , materials science , food science , soybean meal , composite material , raw material
For many years, commercial‐grade hexane has been the preferred solvent for extracting oil from cottonseed. Recent environmental and health concerns about hexane may limit the use of this solvent; therefore, the need for a replacement solvent has become an important issue. Heptane is similar to hexane, but does not have the environmental and health concerns associated with the latter. On a laboratory scale, delinted, dehulled, ground cottonseed was extracted with hexane and heptane. The solvent‐to‐meal ratio was 10:1 (vol/wt). The yield and quality of the oil and meal extracted by heptane were similar to that extracted by hexane. Extraction temperature was higher for heptane than for hexane. A higher temperature and a longer time were required to desolventize miscella from the heptane extraction than from the hexane extraction. Based on these studies, heptane offers a potential alternative to hexane for extracting oil from cottonseed.