Research Paper
Year: 2018 | Month: July | Volume: 5 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 176-181
Dimensional Properties of Garcinia kola Nuts as Influenced by Moisture Content
Ogunlade, Clement. A., Oke, Afolabi. Matthew, Jaiyeoba, Kehinde Folake, Onojah, Praise Edebojo
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Ogunlade, Clement. A.
ABSTRACT
The dimensional properties of biomaterials are important parameters during sorting, conveyance, cleaning, grading, processing and many other post-harvest operations. The dimensional properties of Garcinia kola was investigated at different moisture content using standard procedures. The properties determined include length, breadth, width, geometric mean diameter, arithmetic mean, sphericity and projected area. The results showed that within the moisture content range of 5–35% wet basis, the length of bitter kola varied between 31.89–34.40 mm, the width varied between 14.63–20.1 mm and the thickness varied between 13.97–19.13 mm with average values 33.32 (+ 1.01), 18.04 (+ 1.72) and 16.99 (+ 2.08) mm respectively. The geometric mean diameter varied between 20.06–22.92 mm while the arithmetic mean diameter varied between 21.30–24.02 mm with average values 21.48 (+1.04), and 22.78 (+1.01) mm respectively. The sphericity of the bitter kola seeds ranged between 0.61–0.67 with an average value of 0.64 (+0.02), and the projected area of the bitter kola nuts ranged between 116.4 – 170.6 mm2 with an average value of 151.8 mm2 (+17.58), within moisture content range of 5–35% wet basis. Moisture content exhibits non-linear relationship with the dimensional and axial properties of Garcinia kola nuts. These properties are useful in characterizing the nuts and designing and development of processing/post harvest machines for their processing.
Key words: axial dimension, sphericity, projected area, moisture content.
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