Alcoholic extraction of vegetable oils. V. Pilot plant extraction of cottonseed by aqueous ethanol

Summary Cottonseed flakes were extracted by aqueous ethanol in a countercurrent pilot plant unit to determine the effect of operating variables and the optimum operating conditions. This investigation has shown that direct extraction of cottonseed, using aqueous ethanol as a solvent, is a feasible process in the type of equipment developed previously in this laboratory. The optimum operating conditions for the ethanol extraction of cottonseed have been established. The pilot plant extractions have shown that in this process a prime quality of crude oil and lightcolored meal of good quality, with negligible free gossypol content, are obtained.