ABSTRACT
The aim of this research project was to determine the effect of particle size on the extraction of oil from groundnut.
The successful extraction of the project require the following steps
i. Collection of the seeds
ii. Preparation of the seeds
iii. Particle size reduction
iv. Extraction process etc.
The groundnut seed for this project research was purchased from a local market in Enugu Metropolis. Also, the method used in this project research is solvent extraction method. The solvent used in the exraction is n-hexane, this n –hexane was used because of its hight yield of oil recovery after extraction. The extraction was carried was carried out using 280g of size reduced groundnut with 600ml of n-hexane. Different particle sizes were used in this experiment using sizes screens of 10mm, 20mm, 40mm, 60mm, and 80mm respectively. The yield with hexane as solvent used in 10mm, 20mm, 40mm, 60mm and 80 mm are 41.3% 25%, 33.93%, 44% and 55.5% respectively. From this experiment, it now shows that the smaller the particle size, the greater the yield of oil recovered. And from experiment the smallest particle size is 80mm and is gives the highest yield of oil of about 55.5%. in conclusion, the particle size plays important role in leaching operation. Because they either increase the rate of leaching or reduce the rate of leaching. Particle size increase the rate of leaching if the groundnut seeds are property crushed. Furthermore, the smaller the size the greater is the interfacial are between the solvent and solid. And this will help to increase the rate of diffusion of oil from the particle.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Groundnut is an annual herbaceous plant growing from 30 to 50cm tall. A groundnut seed is composed of two cotyledons, testa, hypocotyls and epicotyl. All except the testa are considered to be part of the embryo.
The cotyledon is the major storage tissue for proteins and 20 to 22% oil.