ABSTRACT The experiment involves designing of a simple lab bench experimental procedure to optimize oil extraction from feed

(ground nuts) using a suitable solvent (ethanol) using batch solidliquid extraction method. In the first part of the experiment, effluent from the extraction of ground nuts using n-hexane as solvent and in water bath of 60 C for 30 minutes was filtered and then undergone distillation to obtain the pure oil. Different compositions of oil were prepared by diluting the pure oil with ethanol and their refractive index were measured using refractometer. A calibration curve of refractive index versus composition of oil was obtained using best fit line. The experimental variables such as solvent-to-solids ratio and time of extraction were studied in the second part of the experiment. Three sets of three different solvent-to-solids ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 were prepared and were left for extraction using ethanol as solvent in water bath of 60 C for 10 minutes, 20 minutes and 30 minutes respectively. The oil compositions of the products were determined from their corresponding measured refractive index using the calibration curve obtained from the first part of the experiment. Theoretically, the oil composition from the extraction should increases with the increasing of time and also solvent-to-solids ratio. However, the results show that the oil composition from the extraction increases with the increasing of time but with decreasing of solvent-to-solids ratio. This might be caused by errors such as the solvent has escape from the conical flasks due to the imperfect seal of the conical flasks mouth.

TABLE OF CONTENT Page 1.0 Abstract Table of content List of Tables List of Figures Nomenclatures ii iii iv v vi

2.0 Introduction 3.0 Theory and Working Equations 4.0 Materials and Methods 5.0 Results and Discussion 6.0 Conclusions and Recommendations References

1 2 4 6 12 14

Appendix A: Raw data Appendix B: Calculation

15 16

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LIST OF TABLES

Tables

Title

Page

5.1

Refractive Index (RI) obtained from different percentage composition of oil.

Refractive index (RI) of sample extract solution at different solvent-to-solids 5.2 ratio and time of extraction.
8

Percentage composition of oil at different solvent-to-solids ratio and time of 5.3 extraction.
10

A1

Raw Data obtained for construction of calibration curve.

15

Refractive index of extract solution from extraction at different solvent-toA2 solids ratio and time of extraction.
16

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figures

Title

Page

2.1

The mechanism of solid-liquid extraction.

Calibration curve of refractive index at different percentage composition of 5.1 oil. 7

Relationship between the refractive index and time of extraction at different 5.2 solvent-to-solids ratio. 8

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NOMENCLATURES

Symbol x y

Title Composition of oil Refractive index

Unit % -