Why is solvent extraction often more economical than pressing for large-scale oil production?

Solvent extraction is often more economical than mechanical pressing for large-scale oil production because it achieves a significantly more complete recovery of oil from raw materials.12

While mechanical pressing leaves behind a residue, or cake, that typically retains 3 to 15 percent of the oil, solvent extraction can reduce the residual oil content in the meal to less than 1 percent. When the market value of the oil is high, the ability to capture this additional yield makes solvent extraction the more efficient and cost-effective choice for industrial-scale operations.123

The process utilizes volatile hydrocarbons, such as petroleum benzin, which are percolated through the prepared oilseed flakes to dissolve the oil. Because both the solvent and the extracted oil are recovered through evaporation, the solvent can be recycled for repeated use, further enhancing the economic viability of the system. In many modern facilities, a combination of prepressing and solvent extraction is used to maximize efficiency, particularly for seeds with high oil content.12