Optimisation of Squalene recovery from Amaranth oil by short path distillation

We aim to determine the optimal conditions for obtaining a higher concentration of squalene (C30H50) with
an increased yield from oil extracted from Amaranthus cruentus cultivated in Romania. A central composite
experiment design was carried out to study the effect of operating conditions on the squalene concentration
and recovery yield using short path distillation at laboratory scale. Among the three variables studied: feed
flow rate, evaporator temperature and wiper speed, the most important proved to be evaporator temperature
and the flow rate. Using the proposed models, we have identified three sets of values for the mentioned
parameters, which ensure either a maximum squalene concentration or the best value for the squalene
recovery yield, or an optimum between the maximum concentration and the best yield.