An aqueous ethanol extraction process for cottonseed oil

Abstract

Abstract A bench‐top process for the extraction of cottonseed flakes with aqueous ethanol has been developed. The process consists of cottonseed meat flaking, drying and extraction with boiling, aqueous ethanol (95% by volume) at atmospheric pressure. The resulting miscella is chilled, producing free oil, emulsified oil and mucilaginous gum. The heterogeneous solution is processed through a phase separator where free and emulsified oil and gum are separated from oil‐lean miscella. The oil and gum phases are treated with caustic soda and centrifuged to produce semirefined oil containing about 4% volatiles. The miscella phase, containing about 3.3% lipid‐like material and 1% petroleum ether insolubles, is reheated and recycled to the extractor. After the marc is pressed foots are added, and it is desolventized to produce a meal having a residual oil content less than 1%. Although not yet otpimized, the process shows potential for scaleup to pilot plant processing and adaptability to current oil mill solvent operations.