Extraction Kinetics and Physicochemical Studies of Terminalia catappa L Kernel Oil Utilization Potential

Kinetics and selected variables (temperature, particle size and time) for extraction of Terminalia Catappa L Kernel Oil (TCKO) were investigated using solvent extraction. Kinetic models studied were: parabolic diffusion, power law, hyperbolic, Elovich and pseudo second order. In ascending order, the best- fitted models at the optimum temperature and oil yield were Elovich’s model, hyperbolic model, and Pseudo second order model. Due to highest value of linear correlation coefficient (R^2) and lowest average values of Root Mean Square (RMS), absolute relative deviation (AARD %) and Standard Error of Estimation (SEE) recorded for Pseudo second order, it was selected as the best fit model. Parabolic and power law models failed to give good fit. The average maximum oil yield of 60.45 ± 0.05 % was obtained at temperature of 55 °C, time of 150 min and an average particle size of 0.5 mm. The physicochemical properties of the TCKO showed its potential for industrial applications.