An advanced aqueous method of extracting rapeseed oil with high quality

Abstract

AbstractBecause of concern about environment, health, and cost, research into the production of rapeseed oil by aqueous extraction has been promoted. The advanced aqueous extraction method using a 1.5:10 water‐to‐rapeseed kernel slurry ratio without the addition of any chemical which was finally developed in this study recovered 94.73% rapeseed oil with high quality. Acid value and peroxide value of rape seed oil produced were quite low at <0.2 mg KOH/kg and < 5 mmol/kg, respectively, which were superior to that produced by solvent extraction and high temperature expressing and that required by the Chinese national standard for first class edible oils. Water content in the de‐oiled rapeseed residue powder was quite low at about 25%, which can be easily dried. No wastewater was discharged during the extraction of oils. This breakthrough shows the great potential of using aqueous extraction of rapeseed oil instead of solvent extraction or high temperature pressing. These results should provide valuable guidance for the future development of production technology of rapeseed oil by aqueous extraction on an industrial scale.Practical applicationThe established aqueous method has the potential of being a classic procedure for processing rapeseeds in the future. The procedures on the laboratory scale established in this study can be a solid basis of developing industrial engineering of producing rapeseed oils on a commercial scale. The results described in this article may lead to a new theory of production technology of oil seeds.