ABSTRACT

The research looked at the physical properties of African oil bean seeds (Penthraclethra macrophylla, Benth) to obtain data required for the design and development of agricultural machines and other equipment’s for its handling, planting, harvesting, processing, packaging and storing. The study was conducted for raw oil bean seeds at moisture content of 2.14% (m.c db) and parboiled oil bean seeds at boiling time of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours at moisture content of 12. 30% (mc wb) 15.10% (m.c wb), 17.70% (m.c wb), 21. 90% (m.c. wb) and 25.71% (m.c. wb) respectively. The results obtained showed that the average major, minor and intermediate diameter for raw and parboiled oil bean seed ranged from 63.92± 10.54mm to 72.22± 10.57mm, 40.35 ± 7.37mm to 43.02 ± 6.24mm, and 12.43 ± 2.03mm to 14.22 ±1.96mm respectively. The seed weight and volume for raw and parboiled oil bean seeds varied from 1 8.56 ± 7.28g to 26.07 ±6.71g and 17.30 ± 6.25cm3to 29.05 ±9.90cm3respectively. Using appropriate expressions, the arithmetic, geometric and square mean diameters were obtained for raw and parboiled oil bean seeds, the average values ranged from 38.89 ± 5.27mm to 45.33 ± 5.47mm, 31.38 ±3.80mm to 37.99 ± 4.73mm and 35.36 ±4.54mm to 42.23 ±3.80mm to 37.99 ± 4.73 and 35.36± 4.54mm to 42.23± 5.08mm respectively. While the equivalent diameter, seed density and sphericity for raw and parboiled oil bean seeds varied from 35.36 ±4.5mm to 41.35 ±5.05mm, 1.09 ±0.26g/cm³to 0.94 ± 0.24g/cm3and 0.50 ± 0.06 to 0.53± 0.05 respectively and the surface area ranged from 39.93 ± 10.4cm3to 55.80±13.53cm². The aspect ratio, terminal velocity, coefficient of static friction and angle of repose for raw and parboiled oil bean seed varied from 0.64±0.12 to 0.87± 0.12, 42.84± 5.09m/s to 43.18± 3.20m/s, 0.87 ±0.21 to 1.42 ± 0.20 and 40.37 ±6.27°to 54.4± 3.95° respectively. While the porosity ranged from 38.08 ±35.32% to 27.54 ±12.60%. These physical parameters were evaluated as functions of the boiling time and linearity was established amongst some of them. It is therefore recommended that more studies should be carried out on the physical properties of biomaterials to enhance the design and development of machines suitable for their processing.