ABSTRACT
The research project studies the analysis of pear and its oil. The mesocarp from edible African pear “DacryodesEdulis” were evaluated for their oil yield. The pulp from this pear were oven dried at 100oC-105oC to a moisture content level of 29%.The mesocarp was subjected to proximate analysis to determine the percentage of the moisture, ash, fat, crude fibre, crude protein and carbohydrate content which resulted to the values of 29%, 2%, 19.6%, 25.5%, 11.9%, and 12% respectively. Then the dried sample was pulverized by using hammer mill and the oil was extracted by solvent extraction using n-hexane. The oil extracted were analyzed for the chemical properties i.e. (Acid value, saponification value, peroxide value, iodine value) etc. the values obtained are respectively 8.41gm/KOH/gm, 185.1gm/KOH/gm, 2.8gm/KOH/gm 3.96gm/iodine/gm and Physical properties i.e. (Refractive index, Ph value, specific gravity) which the values obtained are 1.469brix, 5.7 and 0.92. and the The percentage oil yield content is 51.57%. This physio-chemical characteristic and fatty acid composition of this oil show that they have industrial potentials.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title pagei
Certificationii
Approval pageiii
Dedicationiv
Acknowledgementv
Abstractvi
Table of contentsvii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0Introduction1
1.1Historical background of the study3
1.2Aims and objectives5
1.3Statement of the problem6
1.4Significance/economic importance of the study6
1.5Scope and limitation of the study7
CHAPTER TWO
2.0Literature review
2.1Introduction9
2.2Extraction10
2.2.1 Mechanical/physical method of extraction11
2.2.2 Chemical/solvent method12
2.2.3Basic principles of solvent extraction13
2.2.4Choice of solvent/solvent properties15
2.2.5Applications of solvent extraction16
2.2.6Methods of leaching operations17
2.2.7Solvent extraction theory17
2.2.8Factors affecting the rate of extraction20
2.2.9 Properties of solvent21
2.3.0Extractors22
2.3.1 Distillation as a separation technique24
2.3.2 Classification of oils25
2.3.3Properties of oil26
2.4African Pear31
2.4.1Features of the African pear31
2.4.2 Taxonomy of the African pear plant32
2.4.3 Characteristic and composition of the African33
2.5.0 Oil from African pear34
2.5.1 Uses of African pear35
2.5.2 Economic values of African pear37
CHAPTER THREE
3.0Characterisation of dacryodesedulis40
3.1Experiment Procedures40
3.1.1Material/Equipment40
3.1.2Reagents42
3.2Pre-treatment processes43
3.3Extraction of the oil44
3.4Characterisation of the oil.45
3.4.1To Determine the percentage yield of the oil45
3.5Proximate analysis of dacryodesedulis46
3.5.1To determine the moisture contents of the sample46
3.5.2To Determine the ash content of the sample47
3.5.3To determine the fat content of the sample (lipid – fat & oil)49
3.5.4To Determine the crude fibre of the sample50
3.5.5To Determine carbohydrate content52
3.6Chemical analysis of the oil52
3.6.1Determination of acid value of the african pear oil53
3.6.2Determination of the iodine value of african pear oil53
3.6.3: Determination of the peroxide value of african pear oil56
3.6.4Determination of saponification value of the oil58
3.7Physical analysis of the oil59
3.7.1To Determine the refractive index of the oil59
3.7.2To Determinethe specific gravity of African pear oil60
3.7.3Determination of the ph value of African pear oil60
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0Experimental results and discussion62
4.1Tables and results62
4.2Discussion64
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0Conclusion and recommendation65
5.1Conclusion65
5.2Recommendation65
References67
Appendix72
