Effect of ultrasound treatment on extraction of kokum ( Garcinia indica ) seed oil using three-phase partitioning

Traditional methods of extracting oil from kokum seeds often result in low yields. This study explores a more efficient technique using three-phase partitioning (TPP) combined with ultrasound pretreatment to improve the yield of kokum seed oil. A study was conducted for 25 experimental runs using response surface methodology to optimise the extraction process. Various parameters such as the amount of solvent, salt concentration, ultrasound pretreatment duration, and water concentration were monitored during the experiments. The optimal conditions identified were an ultrasound pretreatment time of 25 min, a salt concentration of 11.15% (w/v), and a solvent-to-water ratio of 1.86:1. Under optimal conditions, the ultrasound-assisted TPP method resulted in a 60% oil yield, whereas the traditional Soxhlet extraction method yielded only 48% oil after a 5 h extraction cycle. Additionally, TPP without ultrasound pretreatment also showed limited efficiency, yielding only 48% oil. These findings clearly demonstrate that combining TPP with ultrasound pretreatment significantly enhances oil yield and reduces extraction time. This technique offers a promising alternative to conventional extraction methods, making it a valuable approach for more efficient oil extraction from kokum seeds.