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 the highest value of linear correlation coefficient (R2) 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 a good fit. The average maximum oil yield of 60.45 ± 0.05 % was obtained at a 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.