Helianthus Annuus Seedcake is a naturally occurring compound of the residues of sunflower oil, a plant that belongs to the botanical family Compositae.

The name defines the structure of the molecule

• "Helianthus Annuus" is the botanical name for sunflower. "Helianthus" is derived from Greek meaning "sun flower", while "Annuus" indicates it's an annual plant.
• "Seedcake" refers to the solid residue that remains after oil has been extracted from seeds, the sunflower seed cake.

Raw material used in production

• Helianthus annuus seeds (sunflower) - The main raw material used for obtaining sunflower oil and its byproduct, sunflower seed cake.

Step-by-step summary of industrial chemical synthesis process.

• Cleaning - Sunflower seeds are cleaned to remove impurities like dust, debris, and broken seeds.
• Dehulling (optional) - The seeds may be dehulled to remove the outer shell. This step can influence the nutritional composition of the final cake.
• Pressing - The cleaned (and dehulled) seeds are mechanically pressed to extract oil.
• Solvent extraction - The press residues can undergo further solvent extraction (usually using hexane) to remove residual oil.
• Solvent removal - The solvent is then removed from the cake by distillation, leaving behind the sunflower seed cake.
• Quality Control - A quality check is done on the sunflower seed cake to ensure it meets the desired specifications, especially if intended for animal feed.

What it is for and where

Cosmetics

Abrasive agent. It contains abrasive particles to remove stains or biofilm that accumulate on the stratum corneum or teeth. Baking soda, kieselguhr, silica and many others have abrasive properties. Peeling or exfoliating products used in dermatology or cosmetic applications contain abrasive agents in the form of synthetic microspheres, however these microspheres or abrasive particles are not biodegradable and create pollution in aquatic ecosystems.

Bulking agent. It regulates the water content, dilutes other solids, can increase the volume of a product for better flow, acts as a buffer against organic acids, helps to keep the pH of the mixture within a certain level.

CAS   68937-99-5

EC number   273-107-5

Commercial applications

Animal Feed. Employed as an ingredient in animal feeds due to its protein content.

Fertilizer. Can be used as a natural fertilizer in agriculture.

Extraction of Bioactive Components. Some bioactive components can be extracted from the seedcake for use in pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products.