A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON OIL YIELD FROM AFRICAN MESQUITE PROSOPIS AFRICANA) AND AFRICAN BREADFRUIT (TRECULIA AFRICANA D.) SEEDS

Abstract

This study evaluated the extraction of oil from the seeds of African mesquite (Prosopis africana) and African breadfruit (Treculia africana D.). Oils were extracted under the same conditions from the two seeds using a Soxhlet extractor and $n$-hexane as solvent. The extraction was carried out over a period of $3$ hr., followed by distillation at $70^\circ \text{C}$ for $30$ mins to completely separate the $n$-hexane from the oil. The oils extracted were characterised using standard methods for physicochemical properties and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis for the chemical constituents. The study showed the percentage oil yield of African mesquite and African breadfruit to be $16.22 \pm 0.86\%$ and $12.52 \pm 0.68\%$, respectively. The total saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and polyunsaturated aldehyde levels in Prosopis africana seed oil were $0.84\%$, $0\%$, $6.93\%$, and $48.82\%$, respectively. In contrast, Treculia africana seed oil had values of $12.92\%$ for SFA, $0.66\%$ for MUFA, $81.38\%$ for PUFA, and $1.52\%$ for polyunsaturated aldehyde. Prosopis africana seed oil contained more polyunsaturated aldehydes than Treculia africana seed oil. In addition, Treculia africana seed oil had higher levels of SFA, MUFA, and PUFA compared to Prosopis africana seed oil.