The versatility of the Moringa oleifera oil in sustainable applications

• Main Authors: Pereira Francisco S.G., Galvão Chesque C., de Lima Valmir F., da Rocha Márcia F.A., Schuler Alexandre R.P., da Silva Valdinete L., de Lima Filho Nelson M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2016-11-01
• Series: Oilseeds and fats, crops and lipids
• Subjects: Oil analysis; oil extraction; turbidity in oil; energy in oil; moringa oil
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1051/ocl/2016027
• ISSN: 2272-6977; 2257-6614

This study had as aims the extraction, purification and characterization of moringa oil for everyday applications with backing scientific. The average oil yield was of 23.92%, using the techniques: mechanical pressing (11.36%) and by with hexane extraction (35.48%). The oil extracted by pressing was analysed for gas chromatography, revealing a profile of 21.5% of saturated fatty acids and 78.5% of unsaturated fatty acids, having the oleic acid as the major component. The mixed crude oil was refined in four steps: degumming, neutralization, washing and drying. The crude and refined oils were characterised through their acidity index (8.8; 20.5 and 0.2 mgKOH g-1), peroxide index (3.3; 5.4 meqO2 kg-1 and not detected), water content (876.6; 632.0 and 630.2 mg kg-1), turbidity (64.1; 12.6 and 2.1 NTU), specific mass (909.5; 907.2 and 907.0 kg m3), kinematic viscosity (43.6; 39.1 and 41.7 mm2 s-1), high power calorific (39.7; 40. and 39.4 MJ kg-1) and calorific value lower (36.9; 36.9; 37.1 MJ kg-1), and ash content (0.05; 0.05 and 0.007%), respectively. The results show that moringa is a viable and sustainable plant in the use of its oil as raw material for several industries, especially in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and biodiesel industry.