Extraction of Oil from Mango Kernel by Hydraulic Pressing: Post harvest Processing and Food Engineering

Mango kernel oil is one of the byproduct from the mango fruit and mostly used in cosmetic and soap industry. Hydraulic pressing is one of the ways to extract the oil from mango kernel. The hydraulic pressing is more useful for small scale processors due to relatively lower initial and operating cost. Moreover, it gives uncontaminated oil and pure cake residue as compared to screw press or solvent extraction method. The present research work was undertaken to study the different process parameters responsible in obtaining better quality mango kernels oil efficiently as well as better quality cake through hydraulic pressing. Hydraulic pressing of mango kernel was done using Universal Testing Machine and specially designed test cell. Mango kernels of kesar variety were used for the study. Before final experiments could be taken up, numbers of preliminary trials were conducted to standardize process of hydraulic pressing in context to the levels of pressing load and sample size of mango kernels. Based on preliminary trials and some earlier studies, efforts were made to study the effects of steaming of mango kernels on oil yield, oil recovery and quality of oil.