Application of response surface methodology to optimise supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of oil from rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Supercritical CO2 fluid extraction technology was used to extract oil from rapeseed. Extraction temperature, pressure, time and the sample particle size were selected and optimised by response surface methodology. Conventional solvent extraction was applied as a comparative method. The maximum extraction yield of 32.65 +/- 1.01% was achieved at a temperature of 40 degrees C and a pressure of 345 bar, using an extraction time of 3 h and a 60-mesh particle size. The chemical compositions of rapeseed oil using esterification method were investigated by GCMS. The result indicates that the main fatty acids are palmitic acid (2.60%), oleic acid (16.54%), linoleic acid (9.62%), linolenic acid (4.77%), eicosenoic acid (11.20%) and erucic acid (47.09%), respectively. Supercritical fluid extraction has been proved to be an effective technique for extracting oil from Brassica napus L.