|
Quality of neem oil depends on the type
of extraction. Manufacturing of neem oil
includes the collection of raw materials
for the extraction and selection of extraction
method. Neem oil is extracted from neem
leaf and need seed. Neem seed is widely
used in the extraction process instead of
neem leaf as the oil content is found to
be more in seeds than in the leaf.
Neem
oil extraction is done by Mechanical
pressing, Steam pressure extraction and
Solvent extraction. Primary process of extraction
consists of grade wise separation of seeds.
Grading of seeds is done according to the
amount of oil content in the seeds and with
sizes as well.
Firstly, the fruits are collected in a
drum, and the kernels are separated to obtain
the seeds. Later the seeds are woven dried
and then feed into the oil extracting machine
in case of mechanical pressing method. The
neem oil is obtained by pressing it mechanically
and collected in a drum. Thus filtration
is done to remove the various unwanted particles
left in the extracted oil in order to obtain
pure neem oil.
In case of Steam pressure extraction method,
the neem seeds after the drying process
are feed into the steam boiler. This process
makes the extraction process easier. The
seeds get swollen by steaming thus the oil
in squeezing becomes easy. The process of
steaming is accompanied by increasing of
pressure in the boiler which drives the
oil out from the seed without any pressing.
In some industries, the left seed's kernels
after the steam boiling is pressed to further
extraction of oil up to 98% leaving just
the outer layer of the seeds. The same filtering
process is followed as done in the mechanical
pressing method.
In solvent extraction method, solvents
like petrol or white gasoline is mixed with
the seeds after woven drying. The solvents
help in extracting the neem oil out of the
kernel up to certain percent. Added to that
the neem seeds are pressed if needed. The
resulting oil is stored in a silo where
the pure neem oil is recovered from the
crude one. Other than these above mentioned
methods, a latest extraction method called
cold pressing is being adopted in many neem
oil manufacturing industries. In the method
of cold
pressing, it is seen that the purest
form of neem oil is obtained along with
the presence of active compounds. The oil
extracted using cold press method seems
to be lighter in color as well as odor when
compared with other methods.
Author: Adam Teaser - neem oil articles |
