Ultrasonic assisted extraction of oil from castor seeds: optimization using response surface methodology, extraction kinetics and characterization

ABSTRACT

Increasing energy demand due to rapid industrialization and ever-increasing population generated more interest in searching for alternate energy. The fundamental reason for the present research work was to analyze the viability of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of oil from castor seeds, optimization of various parameters for maximum extraction of oil using response surface methodology, study the extraction kinetics and analyze the extracted oil using FTIR and GC-MS. The greatest oil yield of 70.93% was acquired under the ideal conditions of solvent volume 16 ml, the mass of seed 1 g, the temperature at 50°C and extraction time of 9 min under ultrasonication using mixed solvent of Isopropanol:Methanol in the ratio of 1:3. The presence of various functional groups such as Hydroxyl and Carbonyl in castor oil was confirmed using FTIR analysis. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the extracted castor oil confirmed the presence of free fatty acid, the maximum peak at 37.39 min confirmed the presence of 12 Hydroxy 9-Octadecenoic acid as a major component in castor oil.

KEYWORDS:

• Ricinus communis
• ultrasonication
• solvent extraction
• response surface methodology
• kinetics

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.