Extraction and assessment of oil and bioactive compounds from cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale) using pressurized n-propane and ethanol as cosolvent

Abstract Cashew nuts in natura were crushed and subjected to lipid extraction using pressurized propane. There was variation in the temperature (30–60°C) and percentage of the cosolvent ethanol (0-6%) using a 2² factorial design with central point in three replicates. The lipid composition was determined and compared to the composition of the ethereal extract obtained by Soxhlet method (SE). The amount of oil extracted ranged from 19.2 to 33.1%. The extraction performed under the conditions of 8 MPa, 60°C using 6% ethanol corresponded to 83.7% of the total lipids. The higher the temperature and percentage of ethanol in the propane, the higher the extraction yield. Thirteen fatty acids were quantified, among them, oleic and linolenic acid were predominant. Tocopherols and sitosterol were higher in the oils obtained using pressurized propane and ethanol. The mathematical model of Sovova was adjusted to the kinetic curves of extraction and represented them satisfactorily.