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 much oil can be extracted from rice bran?
Their results show that it is possible to obtain a maximum oil yield of 20.05 g/100 g rice bran in a three-hour extraction in ethanol with 6% of water at 82.5 °C, with a 4:1 w/w solvent-to-bran ratio and a stirring speed of 137.5 rpm. The – oryzanol content varies between 1527 and 4164 mg/kg of fresh rice bran.
How is rice bran oil refined?
After the extraction, the crude rice bran oil is often refined in order to improve its quality and commercial value. The fundamental steps of the refining process include dewaxing, degumming, neutralization of the free fatty acids, bleaching, and steam deodorization.
What is rice bran used for?
This by-product represents around 9% of all milled rice, and it is full of nutritional and bioactive compounds, but despite these positive proprieties, it is usually wasted or used for animal feeds. Rice bran is particularly rich in oil, which is generally extracted by means of mechanical pressing or or-ganic solvent extraction.