ARS | Publication request: PHYTOSTEROL COMPOSITION OF CRUDE AND REFINED MEADOWFOAM PRESS OIL

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2005
Publication Date: May 1, 2005
Citation: Holser, R.A. 2005. Phytosterol composition of crude and refined meadowfoam press oil [abstract]. 96th Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 73.

Technical Abstract: Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba) is a specialty oilseed crop that contains a high percentage of C20 and C22 fatty acids. Meadowfoam seeds were conditioned at different moisture levels and temperatures to investigate the effects of conditioning on crude press oil quality and yield. Changes in phytosterol composition were closely followed during subsequent degumming, refining, and bleaching operations. Results indicated that increasing the moisture content and temperature of seeds prior to expelling increased the levels of free fatty acids (FFA) in the crude press oils, 0.51% at 70°C and 4% moisture compared with 1.77% at 110°C and 8% moisture. The oil yield and corresponding fatty acid profiles were not significantly altered by the various treatment conditions although changes in phytosterol concentration were observed during refining.