This study aimed to enhance the efficiency and quality of product recovery from Jatropha curcas L. (J. curcas) seeds through optimised fruit hulling, seed shelling, and mechanical co-extraction processes for oil and protein. The book is divided into three main sections. The first section details the construction and evaluation of a mechanical huller designed to separate J. curcas fruits from their hulls. Computer simulations and modelling were employed to predict optimal conditions based on the physical properties of the fruits. A separation unit was also developed and integrated with the huller. The second section focuses on the shelling process of J. curcas seeds using a modified disc mill, examining the impact of the seeds' physical and mechanical properties on shelling performance across various size classes. It presents characteristic air velocity curves for different fractions of shelled material for pneumatic separation. A comparative analysis of the shelling performance of sorted versus unsorted seeds was conducted, leading to the determination of optimal mill settings for each size class. The final section investigates the mechanical oil co-extraction of J. curcas kernels, using rapeseed, soybean, and corn as additives. The study optimised extraction efficiency, press capacity, and specific energy consumption, while also analysing the quality of the oil and press cake against German standards and existing literature o
