Physico-Chemical Analysis of Pycnanthus (Pycnanthus Angolensis) Seed Oil

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2017 in the subject Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry grade: 3.0 course: chemistry language: English abstract: This study was based on physico-chemical analysis of the oil content of Pycnanthus seed for its potential and industrial uses. Seeds were collected from a Pycnanthus tree at Awba-dam UI Ibadan. The results obtained are oil extract 48% the specific gravity 0.978 refractive index 1.4521 melting point 500C the saponification value 245.44% acid value 6.21mg(OH)/g oil peroxide value 16.12mEq/kg and ester value 239.23. The iodine value of seed oil which placed the oil in the non-drying group was 84.94. Fatty acid composition of the seed oil showed the oil to be rich in lauric acid 64.72% palmitic acid 13.97% capric acid 4.99% capryclic acid 4.40% myristic acid 4.33% and stearic acid 1.93%. It also contained oleic acid 3.26% and linoleic acid 2.40%. The other fatty acids present in the oil are palmitoleic acid Linolenic acid and Llignoceric acid. The seeds of the plant could be a source of industrial raw material.