Abstract
Four accessions (Accessions 1, 2, 3 and 4) of castor (Ricinus communis) were grown in Botanical Garden of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the derived savanna of southeastern Nigeria for two cropping seasons (2013 and 2014) in a randomized complete block design. The seeds harvested from them were subjected to chemical analysis. A soxhlet extraction was used for the extraction of the oil, using hexane as solvent. The oil was recovered by simple distillation of the solvent. The residual oil obtained was investigated for physicochemical parameters and fatty acid composition. The results showed free fatty acid compositions of linoleic acid (0.5%), stearic acid (1.3%) and palmitic acid (1.5%). The results of oleic, linolenic and ricinoleic acids were also reported. The physicochemical analysis showed that castor seed and oil had saponification value of 182.9 mg/g, moisture content of 4.4%, acid value of 3.085 mg/g, viscosity of 110.41 cP, pH of 6.11, iodine value of 8.46 mg/g, specific gravity of 0.962 and refractive index of 1.477˚C. The proximate analysis showed that moisture content of castor seeds varied from 9.02 to 9.66% while crude oil varied from 22.9 to 27 g. The results obtained were discussed in relation to the use of castor seeds in the preparation of local food condiment and the suitability of the oil quality in diverse industrial applications.Key words: castor plant, fatty acid, physicochemical, iodine value, derived savannah
Highlights
The castor bean plant belongs to the spurge family Euphorbiaceae
Seeds found in Nigeria and Kenya has been reported to weigh 69.3 and 59.2 g, respectively (Li et al, 2008)
The 100 seed weight may vary from 10-100 g, averaging about 30 g in dwarfs and the mean weight of castor seeds has been reported to vary from 10-100 g; for instance, seeds found in Nigeria and Kenya have been reported to weigh 69.3 g and 59.2 g per seeds respectively (Salunkhe and Desai, 1986; Li et al, 2008)
Summary
The castor bean plant belongs to the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Castor bean, the single member of the African genus Ricinus, presents a wide variation regarding vegetative traits such as leaf and stem colors, number and size of leaf lobes and the presence of wax covering the stem (Savy, 2005). The oil has been used only for industrial and medicinal purposes (Ogunniyi, 2006). It is widely used as a laxative-cathartic agent, in cases of certain radiological examinations which require prompt and thorough evacuation of the small intestine (Stubiger et al, 2003). Castor oil is one of the few naturally occurring glycerides with high purity since the fatty acid portion is nearly 90% of ricinoleic (Akpan et al, 2006). Hot pressing via hydraulic presses extracts between 75 and 85% of the oil contained in castor beans, while the remaining press cake has about 12% oil content (Mensah and Ochran, 2005). A large variability of seed oil percentage was observed, ranging from 39.6-59.5%
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