Studies on Oil Extraction from Pongamia Seeds using Mechanical Expeller and Microwave Heating Technique

Abstract

The extraction of oil from seeds is carried out traditionally by using mechanical expeller. In this study, four configurations of oil extraction systems, namely, single screw, modified single screw, twin screw and microwave assisted oil extraction have been evaluated for oil yield and production or through put rate. Pongamia pinnata seeds have been used as the reference raw materials for this study, both in whole seed form and in crushed form. Present day conventional 10 kW power single screw mechanical oil expellers have a throughput of 15 kg/h with an oil yield of 20%. This study has demonstrated that a twin screw extrusion system can provide a throughput rate of 80 kg/h with an oil yield of 27% for the same energy input. Microwave assisted oil extraction process was also evaluated as an alternative method. It provides a throughput rate of 35 kg/hr with a yield of 25% for the same electric power input.

Keywords: Pongamia pinnata, microwave, oil, screw

Cite this Article

Chandra Kumar. R, M. M. Benal, B. Durga Prasad et al. Studies on Oil Extraction from Pongamia Seeds using Mechanical Expeller and Microwave Heating Technique. Journal of Alternate Energy Sources and Technologies. 2016; 7(3): 7–14p.