A novel integrated approach for high-efficiency enrichment of palmitoleic acid from macadamia oil: optimization and antioxidant activity evaluation

Palmitoleic acid (PA) is a bioactive omega-7 fatty acid with proven health benefits. However, its low natural abundance and susceptibility to oxidation present challenges for industrial extraction. This study introduces a novel integrated approach to macadamia oil processing, combining low-temperature solvent crystallization (LTSC), urea complexation (UC), and molecular distillation (MD). Fatty acid composition, total phenol and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity were evaluated. The results showed that the LTSC-UC-MD com method achieved remarkable, increasing its content from 18.99 % to 61.99 %. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant activity increased with increasing fatty acid concentration but decreased as PA content increased. This work provides an innovative methodology and theoretical framework for industrial PA production. Despite reduced phenolic content, purified PA retained bioactivity, suggesting potential for nutraceutical and cosmetic applications. • A novel process enriched palmitoleic acid (PA) from 18.99 % to 61.99 % efficiently. • Optimized molecular distillation (100 °C, 150 rpm, 1 mL/min) greatly improved PA purity and yield. • Revealed the trade-off between PA enrichment and bioactivity/antioxidant loss during purification. • High-purity PA remains bioactive and suitable for nutraceutical and cosmetic applications.