Application of Response Surface Methodology for Optimizing Oil Extraction Yield From Tropical Almond Seed

Abstract

This study investigated the optimum processing conditions which give the maximum yield of oil extracted from tropical almond seed by the use of response surface methodology (RSM). The factors investigated were solvent concentration (50 – 100% v/v), extraction temperature (84 -100oC) and processing time (60 – 120 min). Central composite design (CCD) was explored to get the optimum conditions for the extraction of the almond seed oil via soxhlet extraction. Solvent concentration, extraction time and one factor interaction term of the concentration exhibited significant effects on the yield of almond seed oil with coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9504. The model adequacy was further checked using the adjusted R² which gave a value of 0.9058. Optimum conditions for extraction, ascertained by RSM were 89% solvent concentration, 90^oC extraction temperature and 107 min extraction time. The calculated predicted results were close to the experimental results which further validate the developed mathematical model.