Original Articles: 2012 Vol: 4 Issue: 5
Extraction and physico- chemical investigation of oil from the seeds of Ceiva Pentandra Linn grown in Katsina, Nigeria
Abstract
The physicochemical parameters of oil extracted from the seeds of Ceiva pentandra Linn were determined and compared with those recommended by the international codex standards for edible oils. The seeds were soxhlet extracted using n – hexane to render 24% light yellow crude oil, whose density was 0.91 g/cm3. The physicochemical analysis carried out on the crude lipid showed that the oil has the following properties: iodine value (125.6 gI2/100g), Saponification value (229 mgKOH/g), peroxide value (14 meqKOH/g), acid value (0.56 mgKOH/g) and free fatty acids (8.5mgKOH/g). The high oil content of the seeds obtained in this work strongly indicates its prospects for commercial extraction.