Experiments with solvent extraction of glandless cottonseed and glanded cottonseed

Abstract

AbstractPreliminary bench scale tests indicated that the rate of extraction of oil from glandless cottonseed flakes is about the same as for glanded flakes. Pilot plant experiments, using 20 lb. batches of flakes in baskets 8×8 in. in cross section, showed that the usual percolation rates can be used and will produce the same results with glandless flakes as with glanded. Solvents used were commercial hexane, nearly pure normal hexane, and a mixed solvent of acetone, hexane and water. In some runs raw flakes were extracted; in others, the meats were tempered by heating to various temperatures. Refine and bleach tests were run on the resulting oil. Colors were much lower than generally obtained with oil from glanded seed, most samples testing below one red Lovibond on a spectrophotometer. The meals from the extractions were used in rat feeding tests. The mixed solvent meal seemed to be a cut above the hexane‐extracted meals in protein quality, showing up equivalent to a casein based diet. The meal from meats which had been heated to 230 F seemed very slightly inferior to those which had undergone less drastic heating. All glandless meals were much superior to a commercial prepress solvent meal which was run for the purpose of making comparisons.