Use of Cold Pressed Neem Kernel Oil (CPNKO)
CPKNO is rich in naturally present bitter principles – the range of chemicals called terpines, terpinoids such as Azadirachtin, Salannin, Nimbin, Nimidin, Meliantriol etc.

CPKNO is used as raw material for extraction of Azadirachtin. A suitable solvent is used to precipitate the active bitter components and then the Neem Oil + Solvent miscella is taken to distillation step so that the Solvent and Neem Oil are separated.

The Neem Oil separated out from the above referred distillation process does not have bitter active principles (like Azadirachtin) and therefore referred to as De Bitterised Neem Oil – DBO). DBO is used as raw material in Soap industry.

As Soap industry needs large quantity of Neem Oil (Biological properties and Bitter principles are not required in this grade of Neem Oil for Soap making), the commercial process adopted is Solvent Extraction process. In this process, the whole Neem fruits are crushed and then solvents are mixed, heated so that the Neem Oil is extracted and a miscella of Solvent and Oil is formed. Then the solvent is distilled and recovered so that Neem oil is separated. This grade of oil is called Solvent Extracted Neem Oil. Azadirachtin and other bio active chemicals are destroyed in this process and the nature of this oil is like that of DBO. This grade of oil is not useful for using as emulsified Neem oil for crop protection spray or for even for medical purposes.