Passion fruit seeds were subjected to pressing under different feed rates (1.2 to 3.0kgh-1) in order to assess the impact of this variation in the yield of the extraction process, the quality characteristics and fatty acid composition of the passion fruit seed oil obtained. The yield of the process ranged between 24 and 25% and presented 84 to 86% of efficiency and residual oil in partially defatted cake around 5%, indicating that the procedure was adequate to the raw material. The lowest press oil outlet temperature was observed at the feed rate of 2.4kgh-1. No significant difference (P>0.05) were observed for fatty acid composition, oxidative stability, density and iodine, saponification, refraction and peroxide values. However, significant differences (P<0.05) was observed on free fatty acids content, which was lower for the highest feed rate, and oil moisture, which was higher for the lowest feed rate. The feed rate in pressing of passion fruit seeds promoted differences in oil quality.
Passiflora edulis; free fatty acids; moisture; oxidative stability; fatty acid composition
