Extraction and Characterization of Oil from Sesame seed

Abstract

The extraction and characterization of sesame oil was carried out by solvent extraction using n-hexane as the solvent. Output yield evaluated as a function of temperature, contact time and different particle sizes gave an average of 44.80 % oil yield. The extracted oil had a pH value of 4.33 and refractive index of 1.472. The oil has a boiling point of 227oC and specific gravity of 0.920. Peroxide value which is an indication of the ability of oil to get rancid was 2.0. Iodine value was 113; acid value was 5.64%, while the free fatty acid value was 2.82%. Saponification and unsaponifiable values obtained were 190.74 and 1.5% respectively. The analysis shows that sesame oil is an important additive in soap making since its properties lies within the standard values of other oils used for that purposes, e.g. lemon grass oil, and alovera.