OIL RECOVERIES FROM SEA BUCKTHORN SEEDS AND PULP

Seed and pulp oils found in sea buckthorn berries are recognized in Canada as having economic potential in the functional food and nutraceutical markets. A need exists for the determination of feasible oil extraction technologies for these high-value berry oils. Three extraction techniques, namely supercritical (carbon monoxide) (SCFE), screw pressing, and an aqueous extraction technique were evaluated for their extraction efficiency (oil recovery % w/w) in comparison to solvent extraction (petroleum ether). Sea buckthorn (cultivar Indian-Summer) seed and pulp-flakes were prepared prior to oil extraction via a pilot process comprising steps of juice removal, drying, and sieving. Base level oil contents of seeds (11.0%), pulp-flakes (19.7%), and juice (2.0%) were determined by chloroform/methanol extraction. Seed oil recoveries were 65.1% and 41.2% for SCFE CO2 (45 degrees C and 35 MPa) and screw pressing, respectively. Pulp-flake oil recovery was 86.3% for SCFE CO2 (45 degrees C and 35 MPa). Low recoveries of pulp oil (6%) were obtained by aqueous extraction compared to chloroform/methanol extraction. Supercritical fluid extraction employing carbon dioxide was selected as a feasible method for extracting sufficient quantities of oils from both seeds and pulp of sea buckthorn berries.