Extraction and purification of oil bodies from pomegranate seeds

In the present study, response surface methodology employed to optimize aqueous extraction conditions of oil bodies from pomegranate seeds. Additional studies conducted to increase the extraction yield and purification of oil bodies. The optimum conditions for the isolation were particle size lower than 1.6 mm, hydration duration of 48 hr, homogenization speed of 14,000 rpm, and hydration duration of 4.8 min. These conditions provided 46.30% of extraction yield, 38.1% of oil content, 15.6% of protein content, and 28.7% of impurities content. The addition of sucrose to the homogenization medium and application of two cycles of homogenization and filtration provided 99% of the extraction of oil in the pomegranate seeds. Water washing, urea washing, and ultrafiltration compared in the purification of the oil bodies. Among the tested methods, while urea washing provided the lowest content of protein, ultrafiltrated oil bodies had the highest oil content and the lowest impurities content.