Physicochemical Properties of Oil Extracts from Sesamum Indicum   L. Seeds Grown in Jigawa State – Nigeria

Many physical and chemical properties of fats and oils have been investigated. In this study the oil content, Iodine value, specific gravity and some chemical analyses on oil extracted from the white and red seeds of sesame seeds were determined and compared with those reported by the other workers. The white and red sesame seeds have mean percentage oil contents of 48% and 50%, mean iodine value of 103 and 116gI₂/100g and specific gravity of 0.915 and 0.923g/cm³ respectively. The chemical analysis carried out on the oil of white and red sesame seeds have the following properties: acid value of 0.5 and 0.45 mg KOH/g, saponification value of 189 and 191 mg KOH/g and peroxide value of 8 and 7.45 meq KOH/g respectively. The high oil content of the sesame seeds obtained in this study strongly indicates its prospects for commercial extraction.