Extraction of Oil from Amazonian Attalea tessmannii Kernels: Kinetics Modeling, Diffusivity Analyses, and...

The Amazon rainforest, recognized for its biodiversity, is an important source of timber and nontimber products that support the livelihoods of traditional communities. Among these resources, palm fruits are especially important because of their economic and ecological value. This study investigates Attalea tessmannii, an underexplored palm species, focusing on the chemical composition of its kernel, lipid extraction (kinetics and diffusivity analysis), and oil characterization. The kernel exhibited a high lipid content of 64.19%. Lipid extraction using hexane reached maximum yield at 60 °C after 180 min. Among the kinetic models tested, the Brimberg model showed the best fit, with an activation energy of 27.5 kJ mol^-1. The diffusion coefficient ranged from 1.8 × 10^-11 to 5.8 × 10^-11 m²/s (25-60 °C). The oil was rich in short-chain fatty acids, mainly lauric acid (∼50%). The physicochemical parameters of A. tessmannii kernel oil indicated its potential for use in food, pharmaceutical, and biodiesel applications.