Production of refined carotene-rich palm oil from palm mesocarp (elaeis guineensis) using supercritical carbon dioxide

Simultaneous extraction, degumming and deacidification of palm oil directly from palm mesocarp using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) were carried out. The temperatures and pressures used were 40-80C and 18-30 MPa, respectively. The degummed and deacidified palm oil produced from the process meets the specifications of refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil of Malaysian standard, with added value in its carotene content . The recovery of the refined palm oil was 52.8-74.0% based on the total hexane extractable material. Other palm minor components such as vitamin E, phytosterols and squalene were preserved in the refined SC-CO2-extracted carotene-rich palm oil. The solubility of triacylglycerols (TGs), distribution coefficient of free fatty acids (FFAs) and the separation factor of FFAs and TGs of palm oil in SC-CO2 are discussed.