Stimulating Production of Shea Butter for Industrial Application in Uganda.
| dc.contributor.author | Francis Omujal | |
| dc.contributor.author | UNCST | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-08-04T12:30:48Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The global shea butter market is projected to reach US$ 2.9 billion by 2025, driven by demand across cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and confectionery industries. Traditional artisan and cold-pressing methods predominantly used in Uganda often yield low-quality shea butter with limited industrial viability. To enhance quality and industrial applicability, this study evaluated dry and solvent fractionation techniques to separate shea butter into olein (liquid) and stearin (solid) fractions at crystallization temperatures of 15°C and 20°C. Solvent fractionation using acetone proved most effective, with artisan-processed shea yielding higher liquid olein fractions (59.4–59.8%) containing elevated oleic acid profiles. A pilot fractionation machine was engineered based on these results to scale up advanced local production, align with National Development Plan (NDP) III goals, and improve rural livelihoods. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Omujal, F. (2026). Stimulating production of shea butter for industrial application in Uganda (Policy Brief). Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute; Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST). | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/12427 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | UNCST | |
| dc.subject | Shea butter fractionation | |
| dc.subject | Olein and stearin yields | |
| dc.subject | Acetone solvent extraction | |
| dc.subject | Industrial value addition | |
| dc.subject | Vitellaria paradoxa | |
| dc.subject | Uganda agro-industrialization | |
| dc.title | Stimulating Production of Shea Butter for Industrial Application in Uganda. | |
| dc.type | Other |