EXTRACTION OF VEGETABLE-OILS WITH ETHYL-ALCOHOL

Using alcohol as an extraction solvent on oilseeds has been investigat ed many times in the past, but this technology has never been used on an industrial scale to date. The author makes a detailed study of the different aspects of vegetable oil extraction using ethyl alcohol in b atch processing units and in installations equipped with conventional extractors, which he shows to be more easily adaptable for use with et hyl alcohol, provided a few modifications and additions are made to th e equipment. From a purely technical point of view, the author conclud es that the technology is feasible, but the choice is more a matter of economics. Finally, he points out that using ethyl alcohol as an extr action solvent can prove particularly worthwhile in countries that pro duce ethyl alcohol but import hexane, or for small capacity batch proc essing installations, where it is particularly easy to work at pressur es of around 20 to 30 psig, which considerably increase oil solubility in the alcohol, therefore improving extraction yields.