Ambient‐temperature extraction of rice bran oil with hexane and isopropanol

Abstract Hexane and isopropanol were compared as solvents for use in ambient‐temperature equilibrium extraction of rice bran oil (RBO). Isopropanol was as effective as hexane in extracting RBO when 20 mL of solvent was used to extract 2 g of bran. Free fatty acid levels were 2–3% in both solvents and similar to that previously reported for hexane extraction of RBO hexane extraction by this method. Larger‐scale extractions with 30 g of bran and 150 mL of solvent produced oil with a similar free fatty acid content and a phosphorus level of approximately 500 ppm. The oil extracted with isopropanol was significantly more stable to heat‐induced oxidation than hexane‐extracted oil. Antioxidants that are more easily extracted by isopropanol than hexane may be responsible for the increased stability.