EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS) SEED OIL

Abstract

This research examined the extraction and the characterization of Telfairia occidentalis seed oil. The seed was found to have moisture content of 8.29% on the average. The oil was extracted from the seed using petroleum ether and on a dry matter basis, and the oil content was within 51-53%. The oil quality parameters of the seed oil were; specific gravity (SG), 0.90g/ml oil, iodine value (IV), 98.4g iodine/100g oil, acid value (AV), 11.78mg KOH/kg oil, free fatty acid (FFA), 5.92% of oil, peroxide value (PV), 40meq peroxide/kg oil, saponification value (SV), 105.19meqKOH/kg oil and kinematic viscosity, 21.21mm2/s at 30°C. The characteristic properties of the oil compared favourably with those of domestic and commercial seed oils.