72 COCONUT CULTIVATION 



it flows from the presses is pumped into tanks 

 for clarification. Such tanks have vertical par- 

 titions so that mucilage and other extraneous 

 matter is retained by the partitions as it settles 

 out, while the oil flows from the inlet to the 

 outlet of the tank. The partially clarified oil is 

 then further treated by passing through a filter 

 press which removes all the associated solid and 

 mucilaginous matter. 



The removal of the finished oil from the stock 

 tanks to tins or barrels for the market calls for 

 no special comment. The Appendix gives par- 

 ticulars and prices of suitable plant for pressing 

 two tons of copra per hour. 



The Solvent Process of Oil Extraction. 



In this process, which is not well adapted for 

 tropical exploitation, the meal is charged into a 

 large vessel, in which it is treated with a hot 

 solvent for oil, such as petrol, benzene, carbon 

 di-sulphide, etc. The solvent, in flowing through 

 the mass, carries away its associated oil, from 

 which it is separated by distillation. The con- 

 densed solvent is returned to the extracting 

 vessel, and the oil remaining in the still is 

 removed for clarification or for sale. 



At the close of the operation, which in the 

 case of a 10-ton plant may take from four to six 

 hours, steam is driven through the mass to 

 remove the retained solvent, and the residue 

 discharged from the extracting vessel. Such 

 residue forms a valuable manure. 



