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Carapa.org - Oil

Natural oil 

Chemical Composition and physical features

Carapa (C. guianensis) seeds are composed of 74% reserve and 26% tégument (Pinto 1963). Reserves are 56% lipid oil, yellow to translucid in color. Oil becomes solid at temperature below 25°C. Fresh oil is composed of nearly 9% of glycérine, mostly oleine and palmitine (Loureiro et al. 1979).

(Photo : Oil from Waini river, Guyana)

Analysis of seed reserve shows : water  40% ; proteins : 6.2% ; lipids : 33.9% ; glycerines : 6.1% ; fiber : 12.1% ; minerals : 1.8%. Composition in fat is given below (Pinto 1963) :

Oil is bitter (the african name Touloucouna means bitter) whatever the mode of extraction, cold or warm. When extracted by boiling and after resting, oil is dense and white, mostly composed of palmitine. This part is used for soap in Northern Brazil. [données FAO]

Oil extraction

Mode of oil extraction varies depending on ethnic group though there is common procedure. In many instances, extraction is a familial process, seeds being boiled, then let to rest for 1-2 weeks. Pulp is then extracted and exposed to sun. Sun warm pulp and oil comes out of it. About 4 Kg of seeds is needed to produce 1 liter of oil, which quantity is variable depending on process. Some producers use matapi (usely used for Cassave manioco), and press pulp to obtain oil. [données FAO]

This process is comparable to traditional extraction by Amerindians. In French Guiana, amerindians boil seeds, and then wait several days that seeds rot. Seeds are then exposed to sun in a palm leaf. Oil is then collected after it slowly drains from pulp. Such process needs 6 Kg of seeds to produce about 1,1 liter of oil. [phytomania.com]

Walter dos Santos, brasilian from Caciporé region, in Amapá, explains how he extract Carapa oil (source : Globorural) :

In the Amazon (Photo here above Waini river, Nord-West Guyana), indigenous people collect floating seeds and extract oil after boiling them, let them rest for weeks until they rot and press them in cold conditions.

Industrial extraction is possible in the Amazon. Seeds are mechanically broken, boiled and pressed at 90°C. About 18 liter of oils are produced  with 100 Kg of seeds, which is comparable to ratio with traditional method. The main advantage that is gained is saving time while producing more oil with more seeds at once. [Globorural].

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