EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SOLVENT TYPES ON THE YIELD OF OIL FROM AVOCADO PEAR SEED
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Vegetables and fruits are essential foods in our diet and also have many compounds that are beneficial for health due
to minor components which include phenolic substances (Francisco et al., 2012). The consumption of the tropical subtropical fruit, avocado, has increased considerably in the last century throughout Nigeria. There seems to be
potential for further increases in consumption in the future (Manuela, 2011).Nowadays, great importance has been
attached to oils from fruits and seeds, this is because of their numerous functions and uses to mankind. Fats and oils
from seeds act as insulators to the body. They serve as protective layer or covering for the internal organs such as
heart and lung. They also serve as sources of energy to the body in the absence of carbohydrates (Akpabio et al.,2011). Persea americana, commonly known as Avocado, is a fruit that contains a high value of oil and chlorophyll
concentration which when extracted results to an oil of emerald green color (Genevive et al., 2013). The avocado fruit
is rich in nutrients, high in proteins, antioxidants and dietary fiber is perhaps the most poorly conceived and
misunderstood fruit of all times. This is mainly attributed to its high fat and calorie content and so most nutritionists
and dieticians either advise against it or to use it “sparingly” (Kuinimeri, 2007). The presence of a ‘tree factor sugars has been hypothesized to act as inhibitors in the repining process of avocado fruit. Additionally, the content of
sugars seems to decrease with fruit maturity. Also, in exceptional cases, avocados do not ripen until harvested
although maturity does increase while the fruit remains on the tree (Manuela, 2011).
There had been many studies regarding the extraction of avocado pulp. Most of these have indicated the high
amount of oleic acid present in avocado. Oleic acid is said to be an effective aid to lower serum cholesterol levels and
low-density lipoproteins in the human body (Genevive et al., 2013). However, with the abundant production of
avocado apple in Nigeria, 15% of avocado pear (pericarp/peels) is discarded as waste which ought to have been a
potential source for the production of oils for industrial applications, specifically, the fruits’ pericarp that are reported to
have antiviral, antibiotic and insecticidal properties and employed as a vermifuge and remedy for dysentery and in the production of cosmetics (Adama and Edoga, 2011).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Nowadays, great importance has been attached to oils from fruits and seeds, this is because of their numerous
functions and uses to mankind. Due to this fact the demand for avocado oil has increased. This work will therefore
focus on improving the production of the oil in large quantities to meet up the demand by investigating some
parameters that would enhance better production.
1.3 AIM
The aim of this work is to study the effect of solvent type and extraction time on the yield of Avocado pear seed oil using solvent extraction method. The objectives of this work are:
- To carry out seed preparation
- To carry out solvent extraction process using soaking method
- Finding out the oil yield of avocado pear by varying the solvent type and extraction time
- 1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
- This study will be conducted on the seed of an Avocado Pear (Persea americana) and the method to be employed
will be carried out in the laboratory using soaking method with hexane, diethyl ether and chloroform as solvents in
determining the best possible yield with varying time intervals. - 1.5 RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY
- This study will give a full knowledge of the parameters to consider when carrying out a commercial production of oil
from avocado pear seed in order to get a better yield. With this information, the production of avocado oil from the
seed will be optimized by choosing the best solvent required for maximum extraction. This will provide better
parameters to be used in the conversion of seed as a form of waste to useful products.
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SOLVENT TYPES ON THE YIELD OF OIL FROM AVOCADO PEAR SEED