Application of the Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of the Aqueous Enzymatic Extraction of Pistacia Khinjuk Oil

ABSTRACT: Aqueous enzymatic extraction of oil from pistacia khinjuk was performed using cellulase. The central composite design was used to optimize the parameters that are significant to the process. The influence of three regressors on the percentage of oil recovery from seed was evaluated using second-order polynomial multiple regression model. Analysis of variance showed a high coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.99 indicating a satisfactory adjustment of the regression model to the experimental data. The positive sign for the coefficient of the interaction between pH and reaction time on the response indicated that a simultaneous increase in the pH and the reaction time led to an increase in oil recovery percentage. The optimum condition are as follows: temperature of 60 °C, pH of 9, reaction time of 20 h and oil extraction recovery of 74.93%.