Lei Liu1, Xiuzhu Yu1,2, Zhong Zhao2, Lirong Xu1, Rui Zhang1. 1. College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China. 2. College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Salt-aided aqueous extraction (SAAE) is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly method of oil extraction that is influenced by many factors. In the present study, we investigated the effect of SAAE on bitter almond oil yield. RESULTS: This study used sodium bicarbonate solution as extraction solvent and the optimal extraction parameters predicted by Box-Behnken design (i.e., concentration of sodium bicarbonate, 0.4 mol L-1 ; solvent-to-sample ratio, 5:1; extraction temperature, 84 °C; extraction time, 60 min), for oil recovery of 90.9%. The physiochemical characteristics of the extracted oil suggest that the quality was similar to that of the aqueous enzymatic extracted oil. Moreover, the content of hydrocyanic acid (HCN) in bitter almond oil was found to be less than 5 mg kg-1 , which was lower compared to that obtained by other reported methods. Results of microanalysis indicated that SAAE led to significant improvement in oil yield by allowing the release of oil and decreasing the emulsion fraction. Therefore, extraction of bitter almond oil by SAAE is feasible. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that extraction of bitter almond oil by SAAE based on the salt effect is feasible on a laboratory scale.
BACKGROUND:Salt-aided aqueous extraction (SAAE) is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly method of oil extraction that is influenced by many factors. In the present study, we investigated the effect of SAAE on bitteralmondoil yield. RESULTS: This study used sodium bicarbonate solution as extraction solvent and the optimal extraction parameters predicted by Box-Behnken design (i.e., concentration of sodium bicarbonate, 0.4 mol L-1 ; solvent-to-sample ratio, 5:1; extraction temperature, 84 °C; extraction time, 60 min), for oil recovery of 90.9%. The physiochemical characteristics of the extracted oil suggest that the quality was similar to that of the aqueous enzymatic extracted oil. Moreover, the content of hydrocyanic acid (HCN) in bitteralmondoil was found to be less than 5 mg kg-1 , which was lower compared to that obtained by other reported methods. Results of microanalysis indicated that SAAE led to significant improvement in oil yield by allowing the release of oil and decreasing the emulsion fraction. Therefore, extraction of bitteralmondoil by SAAE is feasible. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that extraction of bitteralmondoil by SAAE based on the salt effect is feasible on a laboratory scale.