Analysis of the Chemical and Physical Properties of Grey Small Sized Castor Seed and Oil (Ricinus communis L.)

Abstract

The dry seeds of Grey Small Sized (GSS) variety of castor were prepared for analysis by removing the endocarp, sun-drying and milling to flour. The seeds as well as the crude oil obtained were investigated for physical and chemical parameters. The results obtained for the chemical properties of the seeds were: ash (2.9%), crude oil (33.2%), crude fiber (0.5%), crude protein (18.1%), carbohydrate (33.0%) and physical properties: moisture content (12.3%), length (1.32cm), width (0.82cm), thickness (0.56c), slenderness ratio (1.605), bulk density (0.5433g/cm3), and sphericity (0.774 cm3). The chemical properties of the oil were: acid value (2.0mgKOH/g oi), iodine number (84.0), peroxide value (3.4meq/kg oil), saponification value (178.12mgKOH/g oil), unsaponifiable matter (0.6%) and physical properties: viscosity at 25^oC (8.3), specific gravity (0.965l), and refractive index (1.4761). The chemical and physical properties of “GSS” castor oil makes it suitable for various applications in the cosmetics, paints, inks, textile, and pharmaceutical industries, hence, the primary, secondary and tertiary production should be increased as castor is not a major farm produce in Nigerian. Knowledge of the seed’s properties will help in designing of processing equipment for castor seed.