Extraction modeling, kinetics, and thermodynamics of solvent extraction of Irvingia gabonensis kernel oil, for possible industrial application

The effects of the temperature, time, and particle size, in addition to the kinetics and thermodynamics parameters, of Irvingia gabonensis kernel oil (IGKO) yield were investigated. The highest oil yield of 68.80% (by weight) was obtained at 55 degrees C, 150 minutes, and 0.5 mm. The evaluated physicochemical properties of IGKO indicated that viscosity, acidity, dielectric strength, flash, and pour points were 19.37 mm(2) s(-1), 5.18 mg KOH g(-1), 25.83 kV, 285 degrees C, and 17 degrees C, respectively, suggesting its feasibility as transformer fluid upon further treatments. Between the pseudo-second order and hyperbolic kinetic models studied, the former best describes the experimental data. Delta H, Delta S, and Delta G values of IGKO extraction at 0.5 mm and 328 K were, 251.81 kJ mol(-1), 1.08 kJ mol(-1), and -105.49 kJ mol(-1), respectively, indicating the endothermic, irreversible, and spontaneous nature of the process. The kinetic model equations that describe the process were successfully developed for both models based on the process parameters.