Use of Ultrasound Treatment to Improve Oil Extraction From Sunflower

Abstract The current study aimed to improve the extraction of sunflower oil by exposing the oil to an ultrasonic treatment at a frequency of 20 Hz for different (0,5,10,15)minute, then extracting the oil using hexane. It was noted through the results obtained in the study that there is a significant increase in the extraction rate, it was found that the highest extraction rate was (68.96%) at time (10min) and the lowest was (22.50%) at time (0). The physicochemical properties of sunflower oil were studied, the results showed there was a noticeable improvement in those physicochemical properties of sunflower oil, the density was also studied, the highest percentage was (0.926kg/cm3) at time (15), and the lowest percentage (0.918kg/cm3) at time (0). The highest percentage of viscosity was (65c.p) at time (15) while the lowest viscosity (57.5c.p) recorded at time (0). In the study of refractive index, the results showed the highest refractive index was 1.480 at time (15) and the lowest index was (1.476) at time (0), the results also showed the highest percentage of the acidity was (0.85 mg/koh/g) at time (0) while the lowest acidity reached to (0.635mg/koh/g) at (15). The highest percentage of iodine number was (122.4) at time (0) and the lowest percentage 101.8 at time (15). Similarly, the results showed the highest percentage of peroxide number was (3.53mg/koh/g) at time (0) and the lowest percentage (2.58mg/koh/g) at time (15). The highest percentage of saponification number was (199mg/koh/g) at the time (15) and the lowest percentage (188.5mg/koh/g) at the time (0). The fatty acids of the oil exposed to ultrasound and extracted with the hexane were also studied, and the results showed an improvement in some fatty acids, the highest percentage of palmitic acid reached (5.93%) at time (15) and the lowest (4.90%) at time (0). Similarly, the highest percentage of oleic acid reached (19.07%) at time (15) and the lowest percentage was (18.26%) at time (0), while linoleic acid reached the highest percentage (46.91%) at time (15) and the lowest percentage (45.52%) at time (0), and similarly the highest percentage of stearic acid reached (4.59%) at time (15) and the lowest percentage (3.44%) at time (0), the highest percentage of linolenic acid was (0.58%) at time (15) and the lowest percentage (0.39%) at time (0).