Abstract:
In this research nimbin was extracted from neem (Azadirachta indica var. SiamensisValeton) oil by liquid-liquid extraction using hexane and methanol. The properties of neem seedkernel powder were investigated. The results showed that the average size of neem seed kernelpowder was 608 pm and moisture content was 7.3 wt percent of the total mass of powderedneem seed kernel.The optimum processing conditions of the neem oil extraction weredetermined. Neem oil was extracted from powdered neem seed kernel with a soxhlet extractor.The optimum ratio of hexane to neem seed kernel powder was found to be 20 mllg. The neemseed on extraction gave in = 38 wt percent of yellow brown oil. In addition, neem oil wasextracted from powdered neem seed kernel with hexane at room temperature (30 C) for 1 hour,yielding 28 wt percent oil.Subsequently, nimbin was extracted from neem oil with methanol. The optimumratio of neem oil to methanol and number of stages in extraction were determined. Theequilibrium relationship between nimbin in methanol, Y, and nimbin in oil, X, was found to beY = -2264x2 + 2.87X. The results showed that the optimum extraction ratio, (neem oil tomethanol) was 1:5 vv-' and the optimum number of extraction stages was 2. The extractorrecovered =90 percent of the total nimbin in neem oil.