Extraction of Oil from Watermelon Seeds

Oil content in the seeds is between 35-40% and the unsaturated fatty acid content in oil is 78-86% The rate of extraction of oil from date seed depends on and type of solvent, partial size of watermelon seed, and time of extraction temperature. Soxhlet extraction is the most common technique for oil seed extraction. Watermelon seed oil is obtained from date seed through the Soxhlet extraction technique. % Yield and recovery of Oil using solvent extraction with different feed-to-solvent ratios. For solvent petroleum ether shows 1:2, 1:4, 1:6 seed powder to petroleum ether ratio the % yield 18%, 28% and 32% resp. For solvent petroleum ether shows 1:2, 1:4, and 1:6 seed powder to petroleum ether ratio the % recovery 45%, 70%, 80% resp. As per observation petroleum ether is the best suitable for extraction of oil from the watermelon seed. petroleum ether can easily separate after extraction and has a higher yield than others with low cost. The ratio of feed to solvent is also an important factor to be considered for the extraction process which affects the yield of oil. The optimum value for feed to solvent is 1:4 which maximum yield for watermelon seed oil extraction. As the feed-to-solvent ratio increases more than 1:4 there is an appreciable change in the yield but the cost of solvent increases. The 1:4 feed-to-solvent ratios is to be the optimum value for watermelon seed oil extraction. The time of extraction increased the yield of oil also increase and up to the maximum level. Crushed seed in powdered form gives a large surface area for solid-liquid contact. Due to small size particles increased rate as well as yield of extraction of oil from watermelon seed. Extraction carried out at boiling temperature of solvent should be better for rate and yield of extraction. Temperature for extraction with petroleum ether up to 35-40 C.