The Effect of Different Solvent Types and Extraction Methods on Oil Yields and Fatty Acid Composition of Safflower Seed.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different extraction solvents (petroleum benzene, hexane, diethyl ether and acetone) and extraction methods (hot and cold) on oil yield of safflower seeds and its fatty acid compositions. Oil contents of safflower seeds extracted by hot extraction system were changed between 37.40% (acetone) and 39.53% (petroleum benzene), while that of cold extraction was varied between 39.96% (petroleum benzene) and 39.40% (diethyl ether). Regarding the extraction solvents, the highest oil yield (39.53%) was obtained with petroleum benzene, while the minimum value (37.40%) was found with acetone under hot extraction condition. The main fatty acids observed in all extracted oil samples were linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids. Oleic acid contents of safflower oils extracted by hot extraction system was ranged between 41.20% (acetone) and 42.54% (hexane), its content in oils obtained by cold extraction method was varied between 40.58% (acetone) and 42.10% (hexane and diethyl ether). Linoleic content of safflower oil extracted by hot extraction system was found between 48.23% (acetone) and 49.62% (hexane), while that oil extracted by cold method range from 48.07 (hexane) to 49.09% (acetone). The fatty acid composition of safflower seeds oil showed significant (p < 0.05) differences depending on solvent type and extraction method. The results of this study provide relevant information that can be used to improve organic solvent extraction processes of vegetable oil.

Pyrolysis of safflower (Charthamus tinctorius L.) seed press cake: part 1. The effects of pyrolysis parameters on the product yields.

Safflower (Charthamus tinctorius L.) seed press cake was pyrolysed in a fixed-bed reactor. The effects of pyrolysis temperature, heating rate and sweep gas flow rates on the yields of the products were investigated. Pyrolysis runs were performed using pyrolysis temperatures between 400 and 600 degrees C with heating rates of 10, 30 and 50 degrees C min(-1). The obtained bio-char, gas and bio-oil yields ranged between 25 and 34 wt%, 19 and 25 wt%, and 28 and 36 wt%, respectively, at different pyrolysis conditions. The highest liquid yield was obtained at 500 degrees C pyrolysis temperature with a heating rate of 50 degrees C min(-1) under the sweep gas of N(2) with a flow rate of 100 cm(3)min(-1). Employing the higher heating rate of 50 degrees C min(-1) results in maximum bio-oil yield, probably due to the decrease in mass transfer limitations. According to the results obtained under the conditions of this study, the effects of pyrolysis temperature and sweep gas flow rate are more significant than the effect of heating rate on the yields.

Safflower petals: a source of gamma linolenic acid.

Safflower petals have been shown to have a lot of medicinal and therapeutic values. Indian safflower petal samples were analyzed for the red pigment carthamin, protein and oil contents. The petal oil (4.0-5.8%) was further analyzed for its fatty acids followed by alpha linolenic acid (15-19%) and palmitic acids (14-16%). Gamma linolenic acid, which has a lot of therapeutic value was present to an extent of 2-3%; decanoic and dodecanoic acids (2-5%) were also present.