Optimization of a Sustainable Virgin Coconut Oil Extraction Machine for Rural Communities

Abstract

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) extraction is crucial for its nutritional, cosmetic, and medicinal applications; however, traditional processes are inefficient, energy intensive, and of inconsistent quality, thereby restricting rural scalability. This study addresses these issues by developing and optimizing a sustainable Virgin coconut oil (VCO) extraction machine for rural communities. The Machine was designed using SolidWorks Dassault 2023 and optimized via Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimization identified the best process parameters, achieving an optimal extraction temperature of 64.39°C, extraction pressure of 5.79 MPa, extraction time of 39.90 minutes, and a raw material size of 1.737 mm. The optimized conditions led to an oil yield of 1.412 kg/L, a mass balance of 2.608 kg, an energy consumption of 22.53 kWh, and a machine efficiency of 65.67%. The key findings of this study demonstrate that optimizing process parameters significantly improves the efficiency and quality of Virgin coconut oil (VCO) extraction. The study underscores the machine’s potential to improve rural livelihoods by reducing production costs, ensuring consistent oil quality, and aligning with sustainable practices.