Extraction and Characterisation of African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) Seed Oil and the Adsorptive Properties of the Fruit Shell in Ghana

This research work was undertaken to determine the physicochemical parameters of oil from the seeds of African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) and further evaluate the adsorptive properties of the fruit shell. Te oil was extracted using hexane with the soxhlet apparatus at a temperature of 65∘ C for 4 hours. Te results showed an average oil yield obtained of 11.6%, specifc gravity of 0.92kg/m3 , the refractive index of 1.464 at 30∘ C, an acid value of 7.72 mg KOH/g, a free fatty acid value of 3.16 g/100g, saponifcation value of 200.56 mg KOH/g, and an iodine value of 70.64 g/100g. A Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) study on the oil identifed some triglycerides, carbonyl, alkane, and alkene compounds. Adsorptive studies of the fruit shell for the removal of dye were also performed afer chemical activation with CaCl2, MgCl2, and ZnCl2. Te kinetics of the adsorption favoured a pseudo-frst-order reaction pathway for CaCl2 with R2 of 0.941 while ZnCl2 and MgCl2 favoured a pseudo-second-order reaction pathway with R2 of 0.914 and 0.973, respectively.