EFFECT OF MOISTURE CONTENTS AND COMPRESSION AXES ON SOME PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF DIOCLEA REFLEXA SEED
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment
Abstract
Interest in unconventional
seeds such as Dioclea reflexa is growing in
the tropical regions, with the potential for
utilisation as food or industrial materials.
Researchers confirmed that Dioclea reflexa
seed has the potential for clinical use, use as
a food source, and as industrial raw material.
This research studies the effect of moisture
content on the physical properties of Dioclea
reflexa seed and the effect of moisture
content and compression axes its mechanical
properties. Standards methods were used to
determine the physical properties, while the
mechanical properties were derived from
force-deformation curves for the moisture
content range 4.8 to 12.1% (wet basis). The
mean values of the seed’s length increased
by 3.55% (from 31.01 mm), the width
increased by 4.13% (from 26.64 mm), and
the thickness decreased by 2.48% (from
21.75 mm). The geometric mean diameter
increased by 1.68%, surface area increased
by 3.68%, sphericity decreased by 1.54%
and individual seed mass increased by
10.46%. The physical properties exhibit
linear relationships with moisture content.
Rupture force increased by 75% (from 0.80
kN) for loading along the major axis; by
84% (from 0.72 kN) for the intermediate
axis; and by 41% (from 0.78 kN) for the
minor axis. Rupture energy increased from
0.18 J to 1.25 J for compression along the
major axis, from 0.087 J to 0.43 J for the
intermediate axis, and from 0.080 J to 0.18 J
for the minor axis. The mechanical
properties were found to be moisture content
and loading orientation-dependent. Reducing
moisture content reduced both the force and
the energy required to rupture the seeds. The
data generated will be useful in the design of
processing machinery and storage facilities
for the seeds.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Olukayode, O.; Alade, E.I.; Oyelami, S. Effect of moisture contents and compression axes on some physical and mechanical properties of Dioclea reflexa seed. Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment 2022, 55 (2), 189-200. https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-552057