Optimization of Oil Yield from Groundnut Kernel (Arachis hypogeae) in an Hydraulic Press Using Response Surface Methodology

Aim: The present study investigated the effect of operating parameters on the mechanical extraction of oil from groundnut kernel using hydraulic press
Methodology: A five factor, five levels central composite design (CCD) was applied to determine the effects of five independent variables (moisture content, heating temperature, heating time, applied pressure and pressing time) on oil yield. Response surface analysis method was employed to optimize the parameters in the experiment.
Results: Data analysis shows that all the variables signiï¬cantly affected the oil yield at 95% confidence level. Optimum oil yield of 32.36 % was obtained when the moisture content, heating temperature, heating time, applied pressure and pressing time were 8.13%, 81.93ºC, 7.03 minutes, 15.77 Mpa and 6.69 minutes, respectively. The experimental values were very close to the predicted values and were not statistically different at p<0.05.
Conclusion: The regression model obtained has provided a basis for selecting optimum process parameters for the recovery of oil using mechanical press.