Studies of Selected Physicochemical Properties of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) Seed Oil and Tropical Almond (Terminalia catappia L.) Seed Oil

Abstract

Oils from the seeds of fluted pumpkin ( Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) and Tropical almond ( Terminalia catappia L.) were extracted with petroleum ether. The ether extract was evaluated for Wijs iodine value, saponification value, acid value and specific gravity. The result of the evaluation was compared with that of palm oil ( Eloesis guineensis ). The acid value of fluted pumpkin and Tropical almond were 3.51 mg KOH/g and 7.59 mgKOH/g respectively. The saponification value; fluted pumpkin (179.02 mgKOH/g) and Tropical almond (183.44 mgKOH/g) indicate that the oils have high molecular weight fatty acid and therefore provides good feedstock for lubricants, candles and soap production. The iodine values, fluted pumpkin (101.73) and Tropical almond (85.12) suggest a high degree of unsaturation compare to palm oil. This makes the oils good cooking oils and suitable for margarine production. Their specific gravities were also higher than that of palm oil fluted pumpkin has specific gravity of (0.921) and Tropical almond (0.926).