Solvent Extraction and Characterisation of Dika Nut (Irvingia gabonensis) Oil.

Abstract

Oil was extracted from African bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) seeds employing solvent extraction method. Soxhlet apparatus was used in extracting the oil with normal hexane as the extracting solvent at a temperature of 600C. The average oil yield obtained was 64.28%. Charactersation was done to determine the physical and chemical properties of the extracted oil. The results obtained from the analysis carried out were as follows: pale yellow in colour, solid at 280C, with melting point of 400C, refractive index of 1.38, viscosity 0f 54.6m/s and a specific gravity of 0.92g/cm3. The results for the chemical properties are: 6.732mg/KOH (free fatty acid), 76.55g/100g (iodine value), 3.37mg/KOH/g (acid value), 2.5mmolperoxide/kg (peroxide value) and 215.99mg/g (saponification value). The result obtained for saponification value indicates high proportion of fatty acids which shows that the oil may have potential for use in soap making and cosmetics industry. Also, the free fatty acid and acid values reflects the freshness and edibility of the oil, while the peroxide value further confirms its stability. These results obtained, suggest that this oil has potentials for wide industrial applications in Nigeria, such as in soap making, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, as well as in food industries.