This study evaluates crambe grains processing, via oil extraction with pressurized ethanol (PLE), followed by subcritical water extraction (SWE) of compounds of the defatted meal (DM). The oil extraction experiments evaluated the effect of temperature, particle size and time using the mixture of husks + seeds (MHS). The oil was obtained from the crambe seeds (CS) and the MHS by Soxhlet for comparative purposes in relation to oil yield and composition. DM subjected to SWE resulted in dry extract (DE), treated meal (TM) and extract + treated meal (ETM). The increase of extraction temperature (from 40 ºC to 80 ºC) increased the amount of oil obtained from MHS. Reducing the particle size resulted in a higher oil yield from both MHS and CS, while increasing the time (from 60 min to 90 min) only affected MHS extractions. PLE achieved ~50% of the efficiency of Soxhelt in obtaining oil from MHS. In the oils derived from PLE, the major phenolic acids and flavonoids were quinic and protocatechuic acid and kaempferol, respectively. These oils were mainly composed of oleic and erucic acids. Phytosterols and γ-tocopherol contents were higher in MHS oil, thereby lower lipid oxidation and greater thermal stability. DE showed high protein content, while TM and ETM had the highest fiber content. Glucosinolates were not detected in DE, and reduced levels were quantified in TM and ETM, compared to DM. The phenolic compounds content showed a direct relationship with antioxidant capacity, with DE > ETM > TM. • Pressurized ethanol was applied to extract oil from husks and seeds of crambe grains; • Active compounds in the oil (husk + seed) confer chemical and functional properties; • Subcritical water extraction was used to obtain products, derived from defatted meal; • An extract protein rich in phytochemicals was obtained; • Fibrous treated meal with a reduced glucosinolate content was obtained.
Raspe et al. (Sun,) studied this question.