A comprehensive review on the techniques for coconut oil extraction and its application

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Agricultural Engineering

Background:

• Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is valued for its high lauric acid content and health benefits.
• Industrial extraction of VCO involves diverse methods to optimize yield and purity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and highlight common VCO extraction processes in modern industries.
• To analyze the impact of different extraction methods on VCO yield and lauric acid purity.
• To identify industry challenges and suggest advancements for efficient downstream processing.

Main Methods:

• Cold extraction
• Hot extraction
• Low-pressure extraction
• Chilling, freezing, and thawing
• Fermentation
• Centrifugation
• Enzymatic extraction
• Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction

Main Results:

• Extraction methods vary significantly in their efficiency, resulting in different yields and lauric acid purities.
• The choice of extraction method directly influences the final application and quality of virgin coconut oil.
• Understanding method-specific challenges is crucial for technological advancement.

Conclusions:

• This review provides critical insights into VCO extraction technologies.
• The findings can guide the industry in selecting optimal methods for enhanced production and quality.
• Further research into overcoming extraction challenges can lead to more efficient downstream processing.