The study of shea butter. VI: The extraction of shea butter

Shea butter has been extracted from the seeds of the shea tree,B. parkii, with various organic solvents. Petroleum ether (40°–60°C),n-hexane, chloroform, and benzene extracted 32%–38% of fat and 8–9 mg% of vitamin E. These solvents, particularly petroleum ether andn-hexane, can be used for the production of shea butter that is free from any oxidized fat and coloring impurities.