OIL EXTRACTION FROMDACRYODES EDULIS(G.DON) H J. LAM FRUIT

Abstract
Drying and extraction are methods used in the processing of safou (Dacryodes edulis) fruit to separate oils from other products. Typically, the choice of the processing method is determined by economic rather than technical criteria. The increasing demand for safou oil by cosmetic industries has led to the development of electric driers and presses, which are gradually replacing solar driers and manual presses. These developments have maintained processing efficiency, while increasing the purity and the quality of the oil. Solar driers reduced the moisture content of safou fruit from 70 to 13% after 5 days, while electric driers reduced moisture content from 57 to 7% in just 15 hours. Extraction yields vary according to the size of safou fruit, between 25 to 40% for an electric press in the Congo and between 23 to 28% for a hand press in Cameroon.