Case study: Statistical analysis of eurycomanone yield using a full factorial design

This chapter presents a case study that describes statistical analysis of eurycomanone yield using a two level full factorial design. The goal of the statistical analysis in this study was to identify the main effects of and the interaction effects among the processing parameters during Eurycoma longifolia extraction process. A full factorial experimental design has been successfully employed in the chapter to generate a linear regression model for the factors that affect eurycomanone yield in the production of Eurycoma longifolia root extract. Eurycoma longifolia extraction is influenced by both quantitative (duration of extraction, agitation rate, temperature and solvent to raw material ratio) and qualitative (solvent type and particle size) factors. The effects of processing parameters, namely solvent to raw material ratio, duration of extraction and raw material particle size, on eurycomanone yield were investigated using statistical methodology based on design of experiments using Design Expert (Version 6.0.8) software.