Abstract Multi-stage, counter-current process for extracting oil from palm fruit and olives, in which the fruit is disintegrated in the presence of the extraction solvent and passes through the successive stages meeting the extraction solvent in countercurrent in such a manner that in each stage the slurry of solvent and solids is agitated, whereupon the solvent is separated from the solid material before being passed on for further extracting action. The solvent used is either acetone, or a mixture of ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate and acetone in the ratio of 1:1:1 by volume, or ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate and isopropyl ether in the ratio of 4:2:1 by volume. The temperature is maintained at 50* to 55*C throughout the extraction process, and the water:solvent ratio adjusted to 1:1 to 1:2 by weight in the first stage. The recovery of oil from the solvent occurs principally from the outgoing liquor of the first stage.
Inventors
👤 R Couche
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-09 04:37
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11B; C11B1/00; C11B1/10; C11B1/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
32 words
The process as defined in claim 1 which comprises using the separated extraction liquor flowing from each stage to a preceding stage to wash the solid material passing from a preceding stage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process as defined in claim 1 which comprises centrifuging the outgoing extraction liquor from said first stage to separate the oil therefrom, and stripping said separated oil of solvent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process as defined in claim 1 which comprises screening the slurry of extraction liquor and solid material from said first stage to separate the nuts and coarse fibrous solid material, and separating the fine solid material passing through the screen from the extraction liquor by centrifuging before it is passed to the next stage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process as defined in claim 1, which comprises cooling the liquor passing out of at least one stage, and removing the free oil which separates therefrom before said liquor is passed to the preceding stage.