American Journal of Physical Chemistry 2018; 7(3): 50-54 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ajpc doi: 10.11648/j.ajpc.20180703.12 ISSN: 2327-2430 (Print); ISSN: 2327-2449 (Online) Physico-Chemical Characterizations and Fuel Potential Assessment of Chrysophyllum albidum Fruits from Benin Cosme Sagbo Kouwanou 1 , Papin Sourou Montcho 1 , Cokou Pascal Agbangnan Dossa 1 , Euloge Adjou 2 , Valentin Dieudonné Wotto 3 , Dominique Codjo Koko Sohounhloué 1, * 1 Unit of Research in Molecular Interactions, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin 2 Unit of Research in Enzyme Engineering and Food, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin 3 Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin Email address: * Corresponding author To cite this article: Cosme Sagbo Kouwanou, Papin Sourou Montcho, Cokou Pascal Agbangnan Dossa, Euloge Adjou, Valentin Dieudonné Wotto, Dominique Codjo Koko Sohounhloué. Physico-Chemical Characterizations and Fuel Potential Assessment of Chrysophyllum albidum Fruits from Benin. American Journal of Physical Chemistry. Vol. 7, No. 3, 2018, pp. 50-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpc.20180703.12 Received: August 10, 2018; Accepted: September 25, 2018; Published: October 31, 2018 Abstract: This study aims to enhance agricultural resources and reduce post-harvest losses by assessing the physical and chemical characteristics of fruits and non-conventional vegetable oil extracted from Chrysophyllum albidum seeds in Benin. In this context, the fruits of Chrysophyllum albidum were collected in Tori (South Benin) and the morphological characteristics (mass, height and diameter at the equator) of the fruits, as well as the physico-chemical parameters (dry matter content, moisture content, ash content) were evaluated. The pH, soluble dry matter (Brix) and glucose levels of the juice were also evaluated. The extraction of vegetable oil from the seeds was carried out in Soxhlet followed by the determination of biochemical parameters such as quality indices such as acid, peroxide, saponification and iodine indices. The physicochemical characterisation of this oil was also carried out through the determination of density, refractive index and net calorific value (PCI). Analysis of these results reveals that the fruits of Chrysophyllumalbidum have a mean equator mass, size and diameter of 43.79±3.15g, 48.73±2.97mm and 41.11±1.13mm respectively. The levels of dry matter, moisture, and ash are respectively 51.60±0.47%, 48.40±0.47%, and 24.7±0.96% with a pH of 3.67±0.12 a Brix of 27.47±0.99 and a glucose level of 27.57mg/mL. The oil extraction efficiency is 21.52 ± 0.86% with a water and volatile matter content of 2.21 ± 0.64%. This vegetable oil has a dark red colour with an iodine value of 33.21 ± 0.08 g I2 /100 g-Oil, a saponification value of 188.40 ± 4.18 mg KOH / g-Oil, an acid value of 3.60 ± 0.23 mg KOH / g-Oil, a peroxide value of 10.46 ± 0.12 meq O2/g-Oil and an ester value of 155.19 ± 0.17 mg KOH / g-Oil. The density of vegetable oil at 30°C is 0.89. The refractive index of vegetable oil at 30°C is 1.48 with a lower calorific value of 40287.92 kJ/kg. The results thus obtained indicate possible ways of using Chrysophyllum albidum fruits as biofuel. Keywords: Chrysophyllum albidum, Fruit Morphology, Vegetable Oil, Caractérisation, Biofuel, Valorization, Benin 1. Introduction Benin's rich and diverse flora consists of a mosaic of crops and fallow land with local forest islets and shrubby savannahs such as Parkya biglobosa, Anona squamosa, Cyperus esculentus, Lophira lanceolata and Chrysophyllum albidum. Some of these plant species have been the subject of in-depth studies at the Laboratory of Study and Research in Applied Chemistry [1-3]. This rich biodiversity, composed of fruit species, is poorly exploited. This poor performance can be linked to a deficit in terms of chemical knowledge, processes and equipment necessary for its recovery [4]. Chrysophyllum albidum belongs to the sapotaceae family and is a tropical evergreen tree reaching average heights of 25 to 37 metres with an average height of 1.5 to 8 metres [5]. It is a forest species widely distributed in West, Central and Eastern Africa and considered as a tree with a high socio-economic level [6].