Oil Extraction may be done:

• Mechanically (by pressing the kernels)
• Chemically; and
• Enzymatically

PRODUCTION PROCESS

Transesterification

• Is the process of chemically reacting a fat or oil with an alcohol in a presence of a catalyst
• Alcohol used is usually methanol or ethanol
• Catalyst is usually sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide
• The main product of transesterification is biodiesel and the co-product is glycerine

Separation

After transesterification, the biodiesel phase is separated from the glycerine phase, both undergoes purification