Oil Seeds

Oilseeds are agricultural crops grown primarily for the extraction of edible or industrial oils. They are an important source of fats, proteins, and energy and play a vital role in the food, feed, and Oil Chemical industries. 

Common Oilseeds: 

Groundnut (Peanut), Soybean, Mustard/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Sesame (Til), Cottonseed, Linseed (Flaxseed), Safflower, Castor seed, Coconut (Copra). 

General Composition 

• Oil (Fat): 20–50% 

• Protein: 15–40% 

• Moisture: 5–10% 

• Carbohydrates: 10–30% 

• Crude Fiber: 3–20% 

• Ash (Minerals): 2–6%

Key Quality Parameters 

Moisture content, Oil content, Free Fatty Acids (FFA), Acid value, Peroxide value, Protein content, Crude fiber, Ash, Foreign matter.  

Safety & Contaminants 

Oilseeds may be affected by aflatoxins (especially groundnut and cottonseed), pesticide residues, heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As), and microbial contamination due to improper storage. 

Processing Overview 

Cleaning and grading → Dehulling/Decortication → Conditioning/Roasting → Oil extraction (Expeller or Solvent extraction) → Refining of crude oil. The residual oilseed cake/meal is widely used as animal feed.