Argan Oil Extraction Methods

Moroccan Argan oil is the only cosmetic product of its type and standard owing to its multiple uses. No other cosmetic product of such multifarious usage has ever been produced. Argan oil is extracted out of the seeds of Argan fruit. These seeds are obtained by tearing apart the hard nut inside the Argan fruit. These kernels are then processed using various methods to extract the most precious Argan oil. It takes a few hours to many days depending upon the method used to extract one liter of oil. Argan oil is precious in another way that it takes approximately 30 kg of Argan fruit to produce one liter of oil that is about the total produce of one Argan tree in one season. Argan fruit appears in late spring and ripens and falls from tree in the months of June and July. Argan oil has been produced by the indigenous Berber women for a long time. They used it in their cuisine and as simple beauty oil. But with the discovery of its unique chemical composition especially the presence of abundant antioxidants, some other more efficient methods of extracting Argan oil has been introduced in the market. There are three more popular methods used for Argan oil production.

Argan Oil Extraction

Traditional Human Extraction Method

    Argan oil has traditionally been extracted by Berbers from the residue indigestible seeds found in the dung using indigenous tools. Goats eat the Argan fruit and excrete indigestible seeds. These seeds are ground and pressed by women to extract oil with smell and taste of nuts. Different shaped rocks and quern stones are used for pressing and cracking the oil containing seeds. It is a very lengthy process and can take several days to complete. But it has two major advantages over all other methods. One, because the whole process of production from harvest to oil extraction is done by the same people, use of best seeds for oil production can be assured. Second advantage is that the problem of oxidization of exposed seeds becomes irrelevant because of the immediate processing of obtained seeds. On the other hand, in industrial methods seeds are separately acquired from the market. Those seeds are more prone to oxidization due to longer exposure to environment.

Mechanical Extraction Method

    Now more sophisticated and advanced mechanical method is used for Argan oil extraction. When commercial interest of private local and multinational entrepreneurs increased in the Argan oil production in early 1990’s, there was felt a need for a more efficient and time conserving method for the extraction of Argan oil on commercial level. Argan oil extracted using this method can be preserved for 12 to 18 months. In this method powdered kernels are mechanically pressed without mixing it with water. It is no more necessary to process the powdered kernels by tampering it with water to make a pasty substance. It takes only a couple of hours to extract one liter of oil using this method.

Chemical Extraction Method

    This method is used when oil is required for industrial or laboratory purposes. In this method oil is directly absorbed in chemical solvents from ground kernels. Oil extracted using this method is not that fit for cosmetic uses compared to other two methods, but it is the highest yielding method of all the three.