Question

In order to have efficient leaching of the desired material, the process Flaking is done to which of the following raw material:

• A. Sugar extraction from Sugar beet
• B. Oil extraction from vegetable seeds
• C. Iron extraction from hematite
• D. Aluminium extraction from bauxite

Hint:

Flaking improves solvent access by increasing surface area — it's commonly used in oilseed processing to extract oils more effectively.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Flaking is a mechanical process in which seeds or other granular materials are flattened into thin flakes.
This increases the surface area of the material, making it more accessible for subsequent extraction steps such as leaching or pressing.
In the context of oil extraction from vegetable seeds, flaking is an essential preparatory step.
Vegetable seeds like soybean, sunflower, and canola contain oil within tightly packed cellular structures.
By flaking the seeds, the cells are ruptured, exposing the oil and allowing solvents like hexane to penetrate more easily during the leaching (solvent extraction) process.
This significantly improves the yield and speed of oil recovery.
Now let's briefly consider the other options:
- Sugar extraction from sugar beet: Uses diffusion methods, but flaking is not a common preparatory step.
- Iron extraction from hematite: Involves roasting and reduction at high temperatures — no flaking is used.
- Aluminium extraction from bauxite: Requires digestion in caustic soda (Bayer’s process), not flaking.
Thus, flaking is specifically and efficiently used in oil extraction from vegetable seeds to enhance solvent penetration and extraction efficiency.