Adeeb HayyanKhalid M. AbedMaan HayyanM. Zulhaziman M. SallehChen Wai KeatNg Yee-SernHanee F. HizaddinMohd Roslan Mohd NorMohd Ali HashimYousef Mohammed AlanaziJehad SalehBhaskar Sen GuptaSharifah Shahira Syed Putra2024-10-152024-10-152024-05-1310.1007/s13399-024-05847-0https://dspace-cris.utar.edu.my/handle/123456789/2058In this study, the extraction of oil from argan seeds using ultrasonic assisted extraction was investigated using n-decane as the extraction solvent and ionic liquids as the novel co-solvents. The extraction process was assessed based on the mass ratio of solvent to seed and extraction time, alongside the exploration of different ionic liquids as co-solvents. The results showed that in the absence of ionic liquid, the optimum oil yield of 35.2% was achieved at mass ratio of solvent to seed of 6:1 at 60 °C and 30 min. The extraction process adhered to pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with a rate constant of 0.0127%−1 min−1. When ionic liquid 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C3mim][NTf2]) was utilized as a co-solvent alongside n-decane, the oil yield showed an improvement ranging from 0.4 to 4.0%, even when the mass of n-decane used remained similar. However, ionic liquid alone cannot serve as a substitute for n-decane as the extraction solvent. The experimental results were also compared with COSMO-RS analysis. The study demonstrates that ionic liquids can slightly enhance the oil yield by working synergistically with n-decane to improve the dissolution of lignocelluloses present on the seeds. This, in turn, facilitates better penetration of solvent into the seed matrix and enhancing the oil extraction. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024.enArgan seedsCo-solventIonic liquidOil extractionIonic liquidsParaffinsPetroleum prospectingRate constantsSolvent extractionArgan seedCosolventsExtraction processExtraction solventsExtraction timeMass ratioN-decaneOil yieldUltrasonic-assisted extractionsSolventsjournal-article