Application of ultrasound to oil extraction from sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) kernel cake

Abstract

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) oil has a very high content of the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, which makes it comparable only to flaxseed oil. Sacha inchi oil has a very high content of tocopherols which consist predominately of gammatocopherol and delta-tocopherol. There was not much research mentioned to the application of ultrasound on oil extractrion from sacha inchi (P. volubilis L.) kernel cake. Therefore, objective of this study focused on the effects of sonication variables on the oil extraction yield, tocopherol and total phenolic content from sacha inchi (P. volubilis L.) kernel cake. The highest oil extraction recovery, tocopherol and total phenolic content were noted by sonication at frequency 37 kHz, power 30W/g in 3 min, with 30 min of additional extraction time. Ultrasound was used as an effective approach in assisted oil extraction from sacha inchi (P. volubilis L.) kernel cake. The sacha inchi oil was found to contain high amount of total phenolic compound, which can be potentially used as an alternative source of natural antioxidants in food industry.