Two‐phase solvent extraction of canola

The equilibrium relationships in the extraction process that was developed in our research laboratory for the treatment of canola were studied. In the process, hexane is used as well as CH3OH that contains 5% (vol/vol) H2O and 0.08% (w/w) NaOH to simultaneously produce improved meal and high‐quality oil. Equilibrium data for canola oil in the hexane‐CH3OH/H2o/NaOH, meal‐hexane, and meal‐CH3OH/H2O/NaOH‐hexane systems are reported. A high partition coefficient for oil between hexane and the polar phase provided a large driving force for mass transfer. The presence of the CH3OH phase improved oil extraction, probably by rupturing the cell structure. The process proved to be a somewhat less desirable replacement for CH3OH/H2O/NH3 extraction and recovered 93.5% of the oil and 91.8% of the protein in the seed, while with CH3OH/H2O/NH3, the oil and protein recoveries were 96.8 and 94.0%, respectively. The NaOH treatment removed only 50.2% of the glucosinolates, and some of the oil was hydrolyzed by the NaOH, making the process less effective, despite its simplicity.