Rice bran oil (RBO) is not a seed-derived oil. Therefore, the crude oil obtained by conventional solvent extraction using hexane has a number of impurities that are required to be removed before human consumption. Unlike other oils, the bran contains a lipase enzyme that converts the neutral oil to free fatty acids (FFAs) and partial glycerides.
What is rice bran wax used for?
Some industrial manufacturers also used it for oil recovery. However, the recovered oil was utilized for nonedible applications. In addition, a few researchers ( Prasad et al., 2008, Prasad et al., 2009) developed a process for the upgradation and bleaching of crude rice bran wax.
What is rice bran oil (RBO)?
Rice bran oil (RBO) is considered to be a superior quality oil as it has a balanced fatty acid profile, and it contains a number of minor components with proven nutritional benefits such as γ-oryzanol, tocotrienol, tocopherol, and squalene ( Houston, 1972 ).
What is the difference between rice bran and other vegetable oils?
Unlike other oils, the bran contains a lipase enzyme that converts the neutral oil to free fatty acids (FFAs) and partial glycerides. The bran has to be either stabilized or it has to be subjected to solvent extraction immediately after rice milling. However, the crude RBO will have higher FFA contents compared to other common vegetable oils.