Extraction and Characterization of Oils from the Seeds of Baobab and Balanites Aegyptiaca

Adansonia digitata and Balanites aegyptiaca seeds are used in Nigeria and have and impressive range of medicinal uses with high nutritional values. However, to be effectively used, more scientific data are needed .The aim of this present study is to extract and characterize the oil content of adansonia digitata seeds and balanites aegyptiaca seeds. The seeds were extracted with petroleum ether using a mechanical shaker. The seed oil of adansonia digitata and balanites aegyptiaca were analyzed for their specific density, acid value, iodine values, peroxide values, saponification values, and free fatty acids using conventional methods. The percentage extractive yield of oil was found to be: adansonia digitata seeds (27%) and balanites aegyptiaca seeds (45.32%). The characterization analysis of adansonia digitata seeds oil and balanites aegyptiaca seeds oil revealed that the tested parameters gave these values: specific density (0.86±0.00) and (0.90±0.03), acid value (0.33±0.03mgKOH/g) and (2.14±0.28mgKOH/g), iodine number (87.16±5.31g/100g) and (104.39±0.00g/100g), peroxide value (4.5±0.06mEq/Kg) and (2.95±0.00mEq/kg), saponification number (196.87±2.8mgKOH/g) and (200.02±0.12mgKOH/g), free fatty acid (0.45%) and (2.95%). These parameters show that the oils can be used for both commercial and industrial use. The fatty acid composition of adansonia digitata and balanites aegyptiaca was identified by Gas chromatography. The major components of the adansonia digitata and balanites aegyptiaca seed oils were palmitic acid methyl ester (20.48%) and (14.7%), Linoleic acid methyl ester (5.4%) and (41.1%), Oleic acid methyl ester (24.86) and (25.89%), Stearic acid methyl ester (2.16%) and (18.3%), Palmitoleic acid methyl ester (0.99%) and (1.93%)