Investigation of the composition of Sunflower Seeds oil and their physicochemical properties in different zones in Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the quality of different sunflower seeds cultivated in different places in Kurdistan region - North of Iraq. The sunflower seeds were collected at four main zones, each zone were sub-divided into three places according to the topography and environmental factors were effected on physicochemical properties in sunflower seeds which cultivated in these locations. The lowest oil content (mechanical extraction) and the highest cake rate were found in sunflower seeds in Halabja (15.0 and 82.8%) respectively. Whereas, the highest oil content (29.3 %) and lowest cake content (68.0%) were found in sunflower seeds in Kifri. There was a significant difference among zones for smoking point except for zones A (261.2 oC) vs B (264.9 oC) and zones C (271.2 oC) vs D (27.9 oC). However, the sunflower seeds oil showed the highest values of peroxide value, conjugate diene and conjugate trine, (0.432 mEq/kg), [(0.344) 232nm] and [(0.553) 270 nm] respectively, at zone A. In the present study, the spectra of IR analysis were slightly similar with minor differences in locations of spectrum which indicate the change in the functional groups. The NMR analysis showed that patter of signals of Qaladza, Koysinjaq, and Dohuk sunflower oil seems to be similar due to existing unsaturated fatty acid. In contrast, the patter of signals of Kalar indicate that the unsaturated fatty acid was lower compared to other places.