PENGARUH UKURAN PARTIKEL TERHADAP RENDEMEN DAN KARAKTERISTIK MINYAK KEMIRI (ALEURITES MOLUCCANA) HASIL EKSTRAKSI SOXHLET MENGGUNAKAN PELARUT N-HEKSANA

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the effect of particle size on the yield and physicochemical characteristics of candlenut (Aleurites moluccana) oil extracted using the Soxhlet method with n-hexane solvent. The research was conducted experimentally using candlenut particle sizes of 0.25 mm, 0.71 mm, and 2.00 mm. The extraction process was carried out using a Soxhlet apparatus with n-hexane solvent for 2 hours at a temperature of 68–70°C. The parameters analyzed included oil yield, moisture content, density, saponification value, free fatty acid content, and refractive index. The results showed that particle size affected both the oil yield and the physicochemical properties of the extracted candlenut oil. The 0.25 mm particle size produced the highest oil yield of 34.690%, while the 2.00 mm particle size produced the lowest yield of 13.128%. Oil extracted from the 0.25 mm particle size also exhibited better physicochemical characteristics compared to the other particle sizes in terms of moisture content, density, saponification value, free fatty acid content, and refractive index. Smaller particle sizes increased the extraction effectiveness by providing a larger contact surface area between the material and the solvent. The study indicates that particle size is an important parameter in optimizing candlenut oil extraction using the Soxhlet method.