Techno Science Africana Journal, Volume 3 Number 1, June, 2009 EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CALABASH (Lageneria siceratia) SEED OIL Danjuma, M. N. and Dandago, M. A. Chemical Engineering Department Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna. Food Science and Technology Department, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State. ABSTRACT The work was aimed at extraction and characterization of oil extracted from calabash (Lagereria siceratia) seeds. The extracted oil was characterised and the result obtained showed the refractive index to be 1.482, specific gravity to be 0.74, boiling point to be 148 o C and melting point to be 28°C while the average oil yield was found to be 22.32%. The result of chemical analyses of the oil showed an Acid value of 2.02 mg/g which falls within the standard value for edible oil; pH value of 6.6, which justify the low free fatty acid value of 1.01mg/g obtained. The saponification value of 229.6mg/g obtained indicated the suitability of the oil in soap production while iodine value of 75.2mg/g indicated the suitability of the oil for consumption. Key words: Extraction, Characterization, Saponification value, free fatty acid, Neutralisation, Iodine value. INTRODUCTION An attempt to improve the data base for seed oil available for various purposes either for consumption, soap production; Bio diesel production etc necessitated this work. Calabash is classified to the kingdom of plantae, division of magnoloiophyta, class of mognliopsida, order of cucurbitacles, family of cucurbitaceous, genus of lagenaria and species of Lagenaria siceraria. Calabash is one of the first cultivated plants in the world, grown not for food and as a container’. (Fran and Wilf, 2008). The plant is found in abundant in Gumi (Zamfara State), Dukku (Gombe State), Laminga, Keffi (Nassarawa State) and many Northern part of Nigeria. The fruits are ready for harvest in 100 – 120 days after sowing (Korchar, 1985). Oil which was found in plant is mostly found in storage organ such as seeds and they occur mainly in adipose tissue and have to be extracted. MATERIALS AND METHODS Preparation of raw material , 150g of the dehulled seeds was grinded into various sizes and the size was determine using endocot sieve, Extraction of oil Fifty grams of 1mm size of calabash seed was placed in a thimble of soxhlet apparatus and extracted with petroleum ether at 80°C for 2 hours. The same procedure was repeated with a sample of 2mm and 3mm particle sizes respectively. Characterization of the oil extracted pH Determination pH meter ELE model 3071 was used. It was standardized using a buffer solution. The pH meter electrode was then dipped into a measuring cylinder containing 80ml of the oil sample to be analysed and the corresponding reading obtained was recorded. Boiling Point Determination Eighty millilitres of the extracted oil was measured into 100ml beaker and placed on a heating mantle and heated. The temperature at which the oil boiled was recorded. Melting and Solidification Point Eighty millilitres of oil sample was measured into 100ml beakers and thermometer was inserted and was placed in a refrigerator. The temperature at which the oil solidified was recorded. The whole content of solidified oil was transferred into a heating mantle and heated, the temperature at which the oil melted back to liquid was recorded. Specific gravity Twenty grams of extracted and refined oil was measured, its volume determined. Mass of equal volume of water was measured, the specific gravity of the oil was obtained form the following equation: Specific gravity = Weight of oil (Kg) Weight of equal volume of water (Kg) Refractive Index Abbe refrectometer was used to determine the refractive index of the extracted oil. Yield of Oil Fifty grams of the dehulled sample was dried in a tray drier for 4 hours at 80ºC. The seed was crushed and oil was extracted for 2 hours using Soxhlet extraction apparatus. The weight of extracted oil was recorded and the yield was determined using: % yield = weight of oil (g) X 100 Initial weight of sample (g) 67