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Properties of African Breadfruit (Treculia africana) Oil Extracted Using Petroleum Ether and N-Hexane in Two Extraction Times
Abstract
There is high demand for plant oil because of the unsaturation of its fatty acid. African breadfruit is also a seasonal crop which is underutilized when in excess. Again, the properties of oil are affected by the solvent used for the extraction. The above problems necessitated this study to evaluate the effects of petroleum ether and n-hexane on the oil yield and other properties of African breadfruit oil. Two extracting times (4h and 6h) were used to determine their effects on the oil. The properties analyzed were the physicochemical and mineral composition of the oil. Soxhlet extraction technique was used in extracting the oil. The experimental design used was a completely randomized design (CRD). The specific gravity of the oil ranged from 0.836 to 0.901, peroxide value from 4.165 to 5.990 mg/g and the oil yield from 16.61 to 19.31 % with oil extracted using hexane for 6h having the highest (p<0.05) oil yield (19.31 %). The oil (hexane-6h) also had the highest (p<0.05) value for specific gravity, saponification value, acid value, Calcium, and vitamin A content. The Magnesium content ranged from 19.70 mg/100g to 30.75 mg/100g. Oil extracted for 6 hours using petroleum ether had the highest (p<0.05) peroxide value (5.99 mg/g), Magnesium (30.75 mg/100g) and Calcium composition (13.70 mg/100g). There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the extracting time of the oils except for the saponification value of oil extracted using hexane and vitamin A content of oil extracted using petroleum ether. Oil extracted using n-Hexane for six hours was recommended although it will require refining.
