Comparative simulation studies on the countercurrent multi-stage solid–liquid extraction of soybean oil by ethanol and hexane

This study addresses the need for a more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to hexane, the conventional solvent for oil extraction. Hexane, while efficient in dissolving oil, poses neurotoxicity risks and stems from nonrenewable sources. In contrast, ethanol, produced via biotechnological methods, offers a promising alternative due to its minimal environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and safety profile. The objective of this work is to compare the performance of hexane and ethanol in the extraction of soybean oil, employing simulation techniques rather than traditional laboratory experiments. The research develops a mathematical model for a countercurrent multistage solid–liquid extraction process, specifically tailored for soybean oil extraction, and simulates the process using MATLAB/SIMULINK. The results reveal that hexane exhibits a higher initial extraction rate, especially over a 90-min simulation period, though ethanol demonstrates comparable efficiency. Moreover, ethanol consistently showcases higher extraction efficiency relative to hexane when considering solvent-to-solid mass ratios. In conclusion, both hexane and ethanol extraction prove practical with ethanol holding advantages in terms of safety and extraction efficiency. These simulation findings serve as a valuable foundation for subsequent laboratory experiments which can contribute to the validation and refinement of the simulation model.