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Small-scale oil extraction from groundnuts and copra

This technical memorandum is part of a series of publications on small-scale technologies. The object of the series is to help to disseminate, among small-scale producers, extension officers and project evaluators, information on processing technologies that are appropriate for the socio-economic conditions of developing countries.

The present memorandum covers, in detail, various technologies for the extraction of oil from groundnuts and copra: baby expeller mills, small package expellers and power ghanis. Three main stages of processing are considered, namely the pre-processing stages (drying, crushing, scorching), the oil extraction stage and the post-treatment stages (filtering, cake breaking, packaging, bagging). The economic and technical details provided on the stages of processing should help would-be or practising small-scale producers to identify and apply the oil extraction technology best suited to local conditions. A chapter of interest to public planners compares small-scale plants and large-scale plants from a socio-economic viewpoint and suggests various policy measures for the promotion of the right mix of oil extraction techniques.

It is hoped that the information contained in this memorandum will help small-scale oil producers to choose and apply oil extraction techniques that will minimise production costs while improving the quality of the oil produced.

Price: 17.50 Swiss francs