Extraction and Characterization of Vegetable Oils from Melon (Cucumis Melo), Pumpkin (Cucurbita Mixta) & Palm Kernel Nut (Elaeis Guineensis)


This study seeks to extract and characterize vegetable oils of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita Mixta), Melon seed (Cucumis Melo), and Palm kernel nut (Elaeis Guineensis). The extraction was done using Soxhlet extractor and normal hexane as solvent. The free fatty acid composition of pumpkin seed was examined using GC/FID, giving oleic acid the most dominant. Proximate composition and physio-chemical properties of seed oils were performed according to the Association of Analytical Chemists (AOAC) procedure. The results show that the seeds have high oil contents, mean iodine value of pumpkin, melon, and palm kernel (105.3946I2/100g, 114.1529I2/100g, and 50GI2/100G), and specific gravity of 0.9303, 0.9205 and 0.9101 respectively. The high saponification values (186.9879, 194.4931, and 246.2977 mgKOH/g of oil) of pumpkin, melon, and palm kernel oil confer on the oils, the properties required in soap making and cosmetic industry. Other parameters examined were peroxide value (3.79meqO2/g, 13.3meqO2


[Full-Text ]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------