Efficient salt-aided aqueous extraction of bitter almond oil.
BACKGROUND
Salt-aided aqueous extraction (SAAE) is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly method of oil extraction that is influenced by many factors. In the present study, we investigated the effect of SAAE on bitter almond oil yield.


RESULTS
This study used sodium bicarbonate solution as extraction solvent and the optimal extraction parameters predicted by Box-Behnken design (i.e., concentration of sodium bicarbonate, 0.4 mol L-1; solvent-to-sample ratio, 5:1; extraction temperature, 84 °C; extraction time, 60 min), for oil recovery of 90.9%. The physiochemical characteristics of the extracted oil suggest that the quality was similar to that of the aqueous enzymatic extracted oil. Moreover, the content of hydrocyanic acid (HCN) in bitter almond oil was found to be less than 5 mg kg-1, which was lower compared to that obtained by other reported methods. Results of microanalysis indicated that SAAE led to significant improvement in oil yield by allowing the release of oil and decreasing the emulsion fraction. Therefore, extraction of bitter almond oil by SAAE is feasible.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that extraction of bitter almond oil by SAAE based on the salt effect is feasible on a laboratory scale. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
Lei
L
Liu
College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.|College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
Xiuzhu
X
Yu
College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
Zhong
Z
Zhao
College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
Lirong
L
Xu
College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
Rui
R
Zhang
D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000068181:Prunus dulcis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
D004655:Emulsions; D010938:Plant Oils; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C068582:almond oil
aqueous extraction; bitter almond oil; extraction procedure; salt effect