Abstract

PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE NUT OIL

*Famobuwa O. E., Ojo B. M., Adekunbi E. A., Okoro T. S.

Abstract

Oil was extracted from the powdered seed of Anacardium occidentale using Soxhlet extraction technique giving 18.01±0.13% yield. The physicochemical property of cashew nut oil: refractive index, specific gravity, saponification value, iodine value, acid value, peroxide value, and color were 1.46±0.0, 0.96±0.13, 187.4±2.7mgKOH/g, 78.9±1.5mgKOH/g, 3.9±1.2mgKOH/g, 6.0±1.2meq/Kg, and light yellow, respectively. This suggests that the cashew nut oil is edible after refinement but might not be used for soap making but suitable for cosmetics and biodiesel. However, further detailed research is required on the additional quality parameters and possible uses of cashew nut oil.

Keywords: Cashew, Oil, Dehulling, Extraction, Soxhlet, Physiochemical.