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International Journal of Agricultural Research

Year: 2012 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 243-254
DOI: 10.3923/ijar.2012.243.254
Moisture-dependent Physical and Compression Properties of Bitter Melon (Citrullus colocynthis lanatus) Seeds
Y.M. Bande, N.M. Adam, Y. Azmi and O. Jamarei

Abstract: Bitter melon seed (Egusi) is of medicinal value in addition to being a food source, biofuel and in cosmetics. Its dehulling has been a problem to its farmers and properties are moisture dependent. The aim of determination of these properties is to guide the design of processing equipment for planting, storing, dehulling and other post-harvest processing. In moisture range of 7.11-38.70% in dry basis, 1000 seed mass increased from 0.0949-0.1299 kg and surface area from 25.394-27.827 mm2 while geometric and arithmetic mean diameters were 2.83-2.98 and 7.66-8.79 mm, respectively,. At moisture level of 7.11% in dry basis, average length, thickness and width of Egusi “bitter” melon seed were 13.199, 1.853 and 7.924 mm, respectively. Decrease was recorded for Sphericity (from 0.215-0.196) and Porosity (0.541-0.444%) while angle of repose increased from 23.66-33.63°. Bulk density rose from 414.006-456.339 kg m-3 while true density decreased from 901.515-821.668 kg m-3. Coefficient of friction on aluminium (0.2736-0.3172) and PVC (0.2999-0.3782) plywood (0.3388-0.3598), metal (0.2767-0.3198), were obtained by relating the angle made to the height, as the seeds start to slide along an inclined plane made of each material. Seed hull breaking force on horizontal axis increased but a decrease was observed on vertical axis.

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How to cite this article
Y.M. Bande, N.M. Adam, Y. Azmi and O. Jamarei, 2012. Moisture-dependent Physical and Compression Properties of Bitter Melon (Citrullus colocynthis lanatus) Seeds. International Journal of Agricultural Research, 7: 243-254.

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