tMechanical extraction is considered to be the best option for oil expression of Jatropha curcas in rural areas.Lab scale hydraulic pressing experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of process parameterson oil recovery from Jatropha kernel. The ranges of pressing parameters investigated were: compres-sion speed, 0.05–2.5 MPa/s; applied pressure, 5–25 MPa; moisture content, 1–6%; pressing temperature,25–105◦C; pressing time, 1–30 min; shell removal, 0–100%; preheating time, 0–30 min; and particle size,fine, coarse and whole kernel. Chemical analyses such as acid value, phosphorus content, oxidative sta-bility index and water content were carried out to determine the quality of the oil. Moisture content wasfound to influence oil recovery at any applied pressure and pressure rates. Oil recovery increased to someextent with an increase in temperature or pressing time. The preferred moisture content was found tobe about 4% (w.b.). The presence of Jatropha shell and size reduction of the kernel reduce oil recovery.The optimum oil recovery with respect to time of pressing and oil quality was obtained when Jatrophakernel was pressed at 15 MPa, 90◦C, 4% (w.b.) moisture content for 10 min of pressing. The oil recoveryobtained at these processing conditions was 86.1%.