Rice bran oil (RBO) is obtained through extraction of rice bran which is a by-product of the rice milling industries. There are several techniques used for the extraction of the RBO, but solvent extraction using hexane is the most popular used conventional method for commercial extraction.
Which solvent is used in rice bran oil extraction?
The solvents applied in the extraction processes are generally organic compounds derived from non-renewable sources . Hexane is the most common solvent used in rice bran oil extraction . This solvent is cheap and efficient, but it is a petroleum-based solvent, volatile, flammable, and dangerous for humans and for the environment .
How is RBO extracted from rice bran?
The Japanese were the first to extract RBO from rice bran using the hydraulic press technique, which is still used nowa-days, but recently, the preferred industrial technique for com-mercial uses is extraction using non-polar solvents, such as hexane .
What is rice bran oil (RBO)?
This lipidic fraction can be extracted to obtain rice bran oil (RBO), a high value-added product with unique health properties as a result of its high concentration in -γ oryzanol, a powerful antioxidant mixture of bioactive molecules.