Analysis of Steam Explosion as a Pretreatment Strategy in the Extraction of Soybean Seed Oil (Glycine Max L.)

In 2021, Ecuador imported 34,000 tons of soybean oil [1] representing a significant outflow of economic resources and highlighting the country’s vulnerability in terms of the availability of raw materials for direct consumption and industrial processes. It is necessary to explore alternatives to enhance national production. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of the steam explosion technique as a pretreatment for soybean seeds (Glycine max L.) to increase oil extraction yield. The results indicated that pretreatment at 140 ℃ for 60 s improved yield, confirming the suitability of this technique. However, there was a loss of approximately 60% of the raw material, which is a critical aspect impacting the economic viability and sustainability of the extraction process. This highlights the need to investigate more effective methods to reduce material loss and improve yield, ensuring the economic and environmental sustainability of soybean oil production in Ecuador.