ABSTRACT

The objective of this work is to investigate some engineering properties of soursop (A. muracata) seeds with a view to obtain empirical data required for the design of systems for post-harvest operations of the fruit and the seeds. These properties were evaluated at a moisture content of 10.32, 18.90, 25.70, 26.12 and 29.47% (d.b.). The mean seed major, minor and intermediate diameter (length, width and thickness) were found to be were 47.34mm, 30.13mm and 9.99mm respectively. The mean seed major, minor and intermediate diameter (length, width and thickness) all decreased with decrease in moisture content. The arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter and sphericity of soursop seed are 3.01, 9.02 and 51.82% respectively. The true density, bulk density and porosity of the fruit's seeds were 1.olgcm3, 0.45gcm3and 87% respectively. Angle of repose of the fruits was found to be 13.450 while static coefficient of friction on plywood, mild steel and glass were 0.61, 0.40 and 0.2 respectively. The volume, surface area, one thousand weight seeds were 0.60cm3' 256.34mm3and 400g respectively. . Angle of repose, coefficient of friction on plywood, mild steel and glass increased with decrease in moisture content. Finally for the mechanical characteristics, force at break force at yield energy to break energy to yield deformation at break deformation at yield strain at peak all increased with decrease in the moisture content.