Methyl acetate as solvent in pressurized liquid extraction of crambe seed oil.

Graphical abstract Highlights • ELP provided higher yield when compared to Soxhlet extraction. • Crambe seed oils analyzed showed similar fatty acid composition. • Oil convertibility decreased with increasing temperature in ELP. • ELP promoted oil with higher amounts of phytosterols and γ-tocopherol. • Oil obtained with pressurized methyl acetate showed good resistance to oxidation. Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of methyl acetate as a solvent in the pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) of crambe seed oil. The extractions were conducted in an experimental apparatus operated in semi-continuous mode and the effects of solvent flow and temperature on the yield and quality of the oil obtained were evaluated. The results were compared with those for oil obtained from Soxhlet extraction method and a commercial sample. An increase in the solvent flow and in the temperature promoted a greater removal of oil from seeds under pressurized conditions and a yield of 49.1% was achieved. The fatty acids composition was not influenced by the methods evaluated and the oil convertibility decreased with the use of higher temperatures. The oil extracted by PLE presented higher concentrations of phytosterols and tocopherols, as well as high resistance to oxidation compared to the oil from Soxhlet method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]