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This study investigated the extraction and characterisation of hog plum seed kernel. Oil was extracted using solvent method; normal hexane was used as solvent for the extraction process. The study was carried out at moisture contents of 8.03%, 10.57% and 12.00%, and at extraction temperatures of 40°, 50°C and 60°C. The physicochemical properties of the oil investigated were density, saponification value, acid value and free fatty acid. The statistical analysis done showed that moisture content and extraction temperature significantly affected the oil yield; the maximum oil yield in this study was found to be 13.42% at moisture content of 12.00% and extraction temperature of 60oC. The physicochemical properties of the investigated oils were within the requirements of edible oil quality: saponification value was 192.2 mg KOH g-1, acid value was 2.80 mg KOH g-1, free fatty acid was 1.40%w/w, and density was 0.825 g cm-3. These results revealed that the seed has potential use as an industrial raw material and food source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comparative analysis of the effect of hermetic storage models on some quality parameters of soybean seeds was studied. Freshly harvested soybean pods were depodded and the seeds were sundried at 33°C with an average relative humidity of 62% for three days. The seeds were then divided into three portions of 400 g and each portion was put into different storage models which were PVC bags of 400 g, jars of 1 L capacity and another jar (perforated) of 1 L capacity which served as the control. The initial quality parameters of the soybean seeds were determined, while the storage models and control were kept for eight weeks. Samples in each storage model and control were analyzed for proximate composition and other quality parameters at the end of every two weeks. The data obtained were analyzed statistically to determine the effect of hermetic storage models on the nutritional properties together with some quality parameter such as dry matter and hectolitre weight of the stored soybean seeds. Results for the nutritional properties showed that the raw soybean seeds consisted of 8.36% moisture, 15.23% fat, 6.12% ash, 5.18% fibre, 44.18% protein and 20.94% carbohydrate. The values for dry matter and hectolitre weight were 91.63% and 72.30 hl kg-1 respectively. The moisture content, carbohydrate and hectolitre weight of the soybean seeds increased significantly (P<0.05) in the control, while crude fat, crude fibre, ash content, crude protein and dry matter decreased. For that of the bag and jar, the carbohydrate, hectolitre weight and the dry matter of the soybean seeds increased significantly (P<0.05) while the crude fibre, fat, ash, crude protein and moisture content decreased. Thus, the hermetic storage models had effect on some of the nutritional parameters of the stored soya bean samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]