I. A. Wolff

Search for new industrial oils. I. Selected oils from 24 plant families

SummaryThe group of analyses used in this preliminary screening of oils has proved capable of indicating many seed species that contain oils of unusual or unknown composition. Some of the oils are characterized sufficiently to suggest probable commercial uses; others give no evidence of properties that would lead to their use while present commercial oils are in adequate supply. Still other oils are shown to have unknown composition, which must be determined before their potential value can be judged. The study as yet contains too few species to generalize about the relationship between botanical classification and oil composition. It does however provide numerous leads in the search for oils of industrial value.

Compositional differences among crambe samples and between seed components

Data germane to the processing and utilization of crambe as a new oilseed include information on variations to be expected in gross composition of the seed (fruit) and its component parts.Seventy-five samples ofCrambe abyssinica Hochst. ex R. E. Fries from experimental plantings in 17 states have been analyzed. Samples as received contained 16 to 62% pod material (pericarp), the extremes representing samples with many seeds removed from the pod or with many pods containing no seed. The amount of pericarp was most often between 25 and 40%. Oil content of seed (without pericarp) ranged from 36 to 54%, with most samples between 40 and 48%; crude protein from 22 to 37%, usually 25 to 30%; and erucic acid in the oil from 39 to 60%, usually 53 to 59%. Total thioglucoside content in 30 samples ranged from 8 to 10% calculated asepi-progoitrin in oil-free meal, although 2 samples were between 4 and 5%.One sample was hand-separated into pericarp (40%) and seed, and the latter was further separated into seed coat (8%), cotyledon (82%) and hypocotyl (10%). The pericarp contained only 0.4% lipid and the respective seed fractions 17, 55 and 38%. Their corresponding protein contents were 4, 23, 23 and 34%; and their thioglucoside contents (oil-free meal), 0.1, 2.1, 10.9 and 13.0%.Cotyledon and hypocotyl were quite similar in amino acid composition. Neither contained hydroxylproline, which is in both pericarp and seed coat.

Amino acid composition ofLesquerella seed meals

Seed meals from 14 species ofLesquerella, family Cruciferae, were analyzed for 18 amino acids. Lysine and methionine contents ranged, respectively, from 331 to 440, and 72 to 94 mg. per g. of nitrogen. When compared with 9 species ofBrassica (rape, mustard),Lesquerella seeds were higher in lysine and lower in methionine. Thirteen unidentified substances were detected by the ion-exchange chromatographic method used to determine amino acids.