Apr 17, 2017 - National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria). Abstract: The process parameters that can affect the expression ...
June, 2018
AgricEngInt: CIGR Journal Open access at http://www.cigrjournal.org
Vol. 20, No. 1
109
Effect of processing parameters on the expression efficiency of almond oil in a mechanical expression rig Akubude, V. C.1, Maduako, J. N.1, Egwuonwu, C. C.1, Olaniyan, A. M.2, Ajala, E. O.3, Ozumba, C. I.4, Nwosu, C.4 (1. Department Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; 2. Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekitti, Ekiti State, Nigeria; 3. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; 4. National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria) Abstract: The process parameters that can affect the expression efficiency of a mechanical expression rig (MER) for almond kernel (Terminalia catappa) were investigated in an optimization study using central composite design (CCD). A four factor, five levels of CCD was applied to study the effect of moisture content (6%-10% wb), temperature (80oC-100oC), heating time (10-26 min.) and applied pressure (5.84-7.01 MPa) using the chosen range. The physico-chemical properties of the expressed almond oil were also determined using standard procedure.
The results of the study showed that all the variables significantly
affected the expression efficiency at 95% confidence level.
The optimum expression efficiency of 76.35% was obtained at
temperature, pressure, heating time and moisture content of 93.34oC, 6.44 MPa, 17.16 minutes and 8.71% wb, respectively. This indicates that the MER performed satisfactorily. The experimental values were very close to the predicted values with p
