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  • How are shea kernels processed?
  • Shea kernels are processed to obtain shea oil, which when solidified forms shea butter. The kernels are processed using methods such as solvent extraction. ( Coulibaly et al ., 2009 )
  • What is a shea nut kernel?
  • The kernel is the oil-bearing material that can be obtained by processing the shea nut fruit. The fruit primarily undergoes several processes - de-pulping, boiling, drying, deshelling, winnowing and sorting - to obtain the kernel from which the shea butter is extracted. Mechanical processing technology
  • Is shea butter oil Rancid?
  • The acid value for shea butter oil extracted by SEM (1.20±0.13) is higher than that of TEM (0.50±0.06), indicating greater susceptibility to rancidity. However, the acid value for TEM stayed below the accepted threshold of 1% for edible oils.
  • Is shea butter oil a good vegetable oil source?
  • Shea butter oil extracted by both TEM and SEM methods is capable of serving as a high yielding commercially rich source of vegetable oil.\nPeroxide Value (PV) obtained for Shea butter oil extracted by TEM was lower than that of SEM, but both methods have acceptable PV.
  • What is shea butter used for?
  • Shea butter is used as an edible oil and as an antimicrobial in pharmaceutical applications and as moisturizer in cosmetic industries. Because of its high nutritive value and low cholesterol levels, shea butter is an excellent alternative to table oil. Conventionally, shea butter is widely used in the treatment for ailments such as leprosy.
  • What is the mechanical press method of shea butter extraction?
  • The mechanical press method of shea butter extraction has been reported by FAO and CFC (2002) but one of the earliest research on the use of the mechanical press was by Marchand (1988). His research revealed that equipped with a jack that exerts 30 tonnes of force, a shea butter press could crush more than 3 kg of shea kernels within 20 minutes.