Extraction and Analysis of Baobab seeds Oil (Ophelussitularius)

Abstract

This study aimed to extract and analyses Baobab seeds oil. for some physical properties, chemical properties, anti-biological effect, antioxidant and GC-MS for some essential oils. 98 mL of the oil were extracted from 450 grams of seeds powder with soxhlet apparatus using hexane as a solvent. The solvent was separated by a rotary evaporator and the oil content was found to be 19.94%. The physical analysis carried out are; the density, specific gravity, viscosity, color, flash point and moisture content gave the results; (0.9158g/cm3, 0.9168, 40.58cSt, 1.5 Yellow , 280.90 Co, 0.18% ) respectively. The chemical properties analysed are; Acidity value, saponification value, iodine number and peroxide number gave the results; (0.49g KoH, 190. 70 mg/ KoH/g , 102.45 and 2.98mg Eq.O2/g oil), respectively. The results of the biological analysis showed that the oil does not contain antibacterial activity. The baobab seeds oil was found to exhibited an antioxidant and its oxidation value equals ± 46.00 %. The baobab seeds oil was also analysed by GC-MS. The results were interpreted using the data of the NIST library for mass spectrometry, and the compositions were confirmed by studying the disintegration pattern. A match was found up to 5-9% between the spectra of the components and the library data attached to the device. While the results of the gas chromatography analysis showed that the oil contains seven components, the most important of which are: 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (23.71%). 9-Octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (E) (38.50%) . Methyl stearate (4.43%) Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester(30.16%)