COMPARISON OF PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF TWO DESERT DATE (BALANITE AEGYPTIACA) SEEDS OIL FOR INDUSTRIAL AND DOMESTIC PURPOSES

Abstract

The desert date seeds from two different locations were collected, washed, decocted, dried, and pulverized. The seed oil was extracted using soxhlet apparatus with n- hexane as solvent. The percentage yield of the extracted oil was found to be 40.5% and 42%. While the physicochemical analysis of the seeds oil were conducted using standard procedures with the following results; specific density 0.98g/cm3and 0.87g/cm3, saponification value 134mgKOH/g and 136mgKOH/g peroxide value 38meq/kg and 36meq/kg, acid value 12.6mgKOH/g and 12.5mgKOH/g free fatty acid value 12.7mgKOH/g and 12.5mgKOH/g. These results indicate that Desert date seed oil have almost the same physiochemical properties and could be a rich source of oil for industrial and domestic purposes if exploited richly.