A Review on Food Uses and the Prospect of Egusi Melon for Biodiesel Production

Abstract

Melons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and are grown in the tropical and temperate regions of the world. With numerous identified varieties, melons are regarded as one of the most economically important vegetable crops. ‘Egusi’ melon, one of the most popular members of the melon family with diverse species, has formed a significant part of the diet of many Africans and Asians. Egusi melon seed kernels are a good source of edible oil (31–59%), protein (19–37%), fibre (3–4%), and carbohydrate (8–20%). The objectives of this review are to highlight the food uses of egusi melon and its prospect for biodiesel production. Firstly, an introduction to egusi melon is presented, describing its origins, varieties, cultivation and yield, followed by an extensive review of the nutritional composition, oil extraction methods and analysis and food uses of egusi. Then, the engineering properties of egusi fruits, seeds and kernels and the energy utilisation of its biomass are shown. This review also covers the use of egusi seed kernel oil for biodiesel production, the rheological properties of egusi biodiesel, its engine performance, emission characteristics and the conformity of the biodiesel to standard specifications. Finally, future challenges and research directions are presented. This paper will prove to be a viable resource for the food, energy and automobile industries, as well as the scientific community.