In this study, Camellia oleifera oil was extracted after microwave puffing of C. oleifera seed samples by solvent, which gave a relatively high recovery of oil. To understand the extraction mechanism, the microstructures of oilseed samples were analysed with scanning electron microscopy. The HLPC, GC ⁄ MS and physicochemical characteristics of oil analysis showed that the microwave puffing pretreatment improved the amount of tocopherols in C. oleifera oil and gave a good quality of C. oleifera oil. It was concluded that the microwave puffing pretreatment of C. oleifera seed samples prior to oil extraction was a valuable alternative to the traditional pretreatments in oil industry.

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