Jojoba oil is primarily made from the seeds of the jojoba plant using a method called cold pressing.
The Cold Pressing Process Explained
Based on standard industry practices and the provided reference, the process of extracting jojoba oil from the seeds (and other plant parts) is straightforward, focusing on mechanical separation without heat.
Extracting Jojoba Oil
Like most essential oils on the market, Jojoba Oil is extracted using a process called cold pressing. The nuts, seeds and beans from the jojoba plant are put into a cold presser which will use extreme pressure to squeeze the oil out from the solid.
Here's a breakdown of the typical steps involved:
- Seed Preparation: Ripe jojoba seeds are harvested from the plant. They are typically cleaned and dried to the appropriate moisture content before extraction.
- Loading into the Press: The prepared jojoba seeds are fed into a cold press machine. This machine is designed to apply significant mechanical pressure.
- Applying Pressure: The cold press uses extreme pressure to physically compress the seeds. This pressure ruptures the oil sacs within the seeds, forcing the liquid oil out. The term "cold" pressing indicates that no external heat is applied during this process, which helps preserve the oil's natural nutrients and characteristics.
- Oil Separation: As the oil is squeezed out, it is collected. The solid residue left behind, often called a "press cake," contains the remaining plant material.
- Filtering (Optional but Common): The collected oil may undergo a simple filtration process to remove any solid particles or sediment, resulting in a clearer oil.
This method is preferred because it avoids using heat or chemical solvents, which can degrade the oil's quality.
Why Cold Pressing?
- Preserves Nutrients: High heat can destroy beneficial compounds in the oil. Cold pressing helps maintain the natural profile of fatty acids and vitamins.
- Chemical-Free: Unlike solvent extraction, cold pressing doesn't use harsh chemicals, resulting in a purer oil.
- Quality: Oils produced via cold pressing are often considered higher quality with a richer aroma and color compared to heat-extracted or solvent-extracted oils.
Making jojoba oil from seed at home or on a commercial scale relies fundamentally on this mechanical pressure method to separate the liquid wax ester (commonly called oil) from the solid seed material.
| Input Material | Extraction Method | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Jojoba Seeds (and other parts like nuts/beans) | Cold Pressing | Jojoba Oil + Solid Press Cake Residue |
To summarize, making jojoba oil from seed is achieved by applying intense mechanical pressure via a cold presser to physically squeeze the oil out of the solid seed material.
