Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Scent bean (Ozoroa paniculosa) is a plant species known for its oil-rich seeds that have potential applications in the food and cosmetic industries. In this study, the effect of particle size on oil yield from scent bean seeds was investigated. Scent bean seeds were ground into different particle sizes ranging from coarse to fine using a laboratory grinder. The oil was extracted from the ground seeds using a screw press extraction method. The oil yield was determined by weighing the extracted oil and calculating the percentage yield based on the initial weight of the seeds. The results showed that the particle size of the ground scent bean seeds had a significant impact on the oil yield. It was observed that finer particle sizes resulted in higher oil yields compared to coarser particle sizes. This phenomenon can be attributed to the increased surface area of the finer particles, which allows for better extraction of oil during the pressing process. The finer particles provide more contact points for the oil to be released from the seed matrix, leading to higher oil recovery. Furthermore, the study also investigated the influence of particle size on the quality of the extracted oil. It was found that oils extracted from finer particles had lower levels of impurities and higher purity compared to oils extracted from coarser particles. This suggests that controlling the particle size during the grinding process can not only improve oil yield but also enhance the quality of the extracted oil. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the importance of particle size in optimizing oil yield from scent bean seeds. By selecting an appropriate particle size during the grinding process, it is possible to maximize oil extraction efficiency and produce higher quality oil. This information is valuable for industries that utilize scent bean oil as a raw material, as it can help improve production processes and product quality. Further research could focus on exploring other factors that may influence oil yield and quality to develop comprehensive guidelines for optimizing oil extraction from scent bean seeds.

Thesis Overview

1.0. INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

There has been an increase in the world production of oilseeds over the last thirty years (Murphy, 1994); this would appear to be related to the increasing demand for oilseed products and by-products as oilseeds are primarily grown for their oil and meal.Oils from most edible oilseeds are used in the food industry, though there is growing emphasis on industrial utilization as feedstock for several industries with about 80% of the world production of vegetable oils for human consumption. The remaining 20% utilization is between animal and chemical industries (Murphy, 1994).According to Rajagopal et al. (2005), bio-oils from oilseeds are used as Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) or as biodiesel (trans esterified oil) depending on type of engine and level of blend of the oil; scent bean oil i.e. Ozaki, Ijiliji, or Azamu is found mainly in the South-East of Nigeria and is not an exception. This phenomenon has created a school of thought that it is better to use oilseeds as bio-fuel, which will lessen the competition for fossil fuels, which are not renewable. Fossil fuels are not only costly in terms of price but are also costly to the

[2]environment as they degrade land, pollute water and cause a general destabilization of the ecosystem with global warming as an end result. Furthermore, crude oil wields socio-political power that often dictates the pace of economic growth in specific locations, especially non-oil producing nations.Nevertheless, the petroleum industry requires a greater quantity of oil to meet its demand.Demand, however, by the food industry alone is not secure for many developing countries like Ghana that depend on imports of vegetable oil and fossil fuels. In order to meet the required amounts needed by all industries, these fats and oils must be available in large quantities locally with an effective extraction process at an affordable cost. The ability of a particular oilseed to fit into the growing industries depends on its utilization potential, rate of production, availability and ease of the processing technology. Thus while some oilseeds are being largely utilized in the oil processing industries, quite a number of oilseeds are under-exploited.Generally, oils and fats from seeds and nuts constitute an essential part of man’s diet. Fats and oils, together with proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, are the main nutrients required by the human body. Fats and oils are rich sources of energy, containing two and a half times the calories of carbohydrates (per unit

[3]weight). In addition to being a source of vitamins A, D, E and K, fats and oils also contain essential fatty acids. These essential fatty acids are not manufactured by the body and must be obtained from diets, with linoleic, oleic and linoleic acids as examples of unsaturated fatty acids (NRI, 1995).