Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a process for extraction of gossypol for cottonseed using a solvent solution which includes: (a) a water miscible organic solvent; (b) water; and (c) an acid which is strong enough to prevent binding of gossypol to cottonseed protein but which is not so strong as to hydrolyze a substantial portion of the cottonseed protein. The present invention also includes cotton seed meals of reduced gossypol content (and optionally reduced aflatoxin and/or fat content) produced by the aforementioned extraction.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of plant material to provide a protein-rich product and oil relatively free of gossypol. The process includes the steps of:a. contacting plant material with an aqueous monohydric alcohol solvent to extract oil and gossypol from the plant material and form a miscella fraction including the solvent, oil and gossypol, and a plant material fraction having gossypol removed therefrom;b. separating the solvent from the oil and gossypol in the miscella, preferably by membrane separation under pressure in a membrane separation unit, to form a first (retentate) fraction comprising the oil and gossypol, and a second (permeate) fraction comprising the solvent; andc. contacting the first fraction with an adsorbent effective to separate the gossypol from the oil therein.The plant material and oil remaining after the process are relatively free of gossypol and may be recovered for subsequent use. The plant material is especially valuable as a protein-rich food product or feed.

Abstract: Nitrogenous compounds are eliminated from a synthetic hydrocarbon oil such as shale oil by partial hydrogenation followed by solvent extraction using a three-component solvent comprising an organic polar solvent, an acid and water. For example, a furfuryl alcohol, hydrochloric acid and water solution will remove the major quantity of the nitrogen compounds from shale oil which remain following the partial hydrogenation of the shale oil.