ENZYME-ASSISTED HEXANE EXTRACTION OF SOYA BEAN OIL

An enzymatic treatment with carbohydrases was performed either simulta neously with or prior to the hexane extraction of oil from soya grits. The enzymatic treatment increased the oil extractability by 5% of the extractable oil when it was carried out simultaneously with the oil e xtraction and 8-10% if the treatment was carried out prior to the solv ent extraction. For this latter case, the fraction 'easily' extractabl e increased up to 75%. With regard to the products, the in-vitro appar ent digestibility of the meal was slightly improved by 3%, and the enz yme assisted extracted oil contained higher free fatty acids and phosp horus contents than the oil from untreated samples (P < 0.05).