What technologies are used in the extraction of camellia seed oil?
Mechanical pressing extraction (MPE) and solvent extraction (SE) are now the dominant technologies used for the industrial-scale extraction of camellia seed oil, owing to advantages such as low capital investment and easy operation [ 11 ].
Why is camellia seed oil popular in South China?
Camellia seed oil, extracted from the seeds of Camellia oleifera Abel., is popular in South China because of its high nutritive value and unique flavor. Nowadays, the traditional extraction methods of hot pressing extraction (HPE) and solvent extraction (SE) are contentious due to low product quality and high environmental impact.
How is camellia seed oil produced?
In this process, camellia seed oil is obtained through a combination of MPE and SE, which provides an overall oil yield in excess of 95% [ 51, 78 ]. Hexane and No. 6 solvent are the most commonly used organic solvents in camellia seed oil production [ 13, 80 ].
Is MPE suitable for extraction of camellia seed oil?
MPE is suitable for extraction from seeds with high oil contents (>25%) [ 71 ]. Nowadays, MPE accounts for the largest market share among the processes used for camellia seed oil extraction in China [ 72 ]. However, MPE is often hampered by low oil yield, and certain amounts of oils are left in the pressed cakes.