Author(s):

Poornima DS, KN Hanumantharaju, V Siva Shankar, K Suresh Kumar and HN Ramya

Abstract: Watermelon fruit contains large quantities of seeds and the seed oil has got many benefits. The oil content of seeds was estimated using Soxtherm apparatus and found to contain 22 % of oil in it. The oil from seeds was extracted using mechanical screw press. To optimize the effect of temperature and moisture content on oil recovery completely randomized factorial design of experiments was employed. The oil was extracted at five different temperatures viz, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 ºC and moisture contents viz, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 % combinations. The best combination for maximum oil recovery was observed to be at 50 ºC temperature and 10 % moisture content. The extracted oil was evaluated for acid, iodine, saponification, free fatty acid, specific gravity, density and viscosity values. The determined values were 10.20 mgKOH/g, 154 gI₂/100g, 190.80 mg/g, 5.32 mgKOH/g, 0.94, 1.39 g/cm³ and 1.14 mm²/sec, respectively.

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