Babassu almonds oil extracted with alternative pressurized green solvents, its triacylglycerol prediction and β‐sitosterol composition

Abstract

AbstractThe behavior of two process variables in the oil extraction from babassu almonds (percentage of solvent volume [SV], and the contact time between solvent and the matrix in each batch [St]) was evaluated. In the statistical evaluation, SV was a significant variable in the process that used ethanol as solvent. Conversely, when the solvent was isopropanol, the significant variable was St. The response surface analysis (RSA) indicated that high St, regardless of the solvent amount, results in high yields. The highest yields were 55.34% when isopropanol was the solvent and 53.12% for ethanol. These values represent 92.4 and 88.7% of the oil content in the seeds, respectively. The fatty acid profile, rich in lauric, myristic, oleic, and palmitic acids, was the same regardless of the solvent and operational conditions used. The extract obtained using pressurized isopropanol presented the highest concentration of β‐sitosterol when 3 min was used as St with 66% of SV. When pressurized ethanol was the solvent, the highest concentration of β‐sitosterol was obtained at 2 min of St and 80% of SV. As a function of fatty acid composition, the main triacylglycerols present in babassu oil were COL, LOL, LOM, LOP, and MOP regardless of solvent.Practical applicationsBabassu almond is rich in potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and zinc, which are elemental minerals for human health. Being considered oleaginous, it is equally of great importance for cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Babassu oil is rich in phytosterols (among them β‐sitosterol) and it is rich in essential fatty acids such as lauric, myristic, oleic, and palmitic acids, which have clinical effects in the treatment of skin ulcers and burns.