SOME CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF BAMHARA GROUNDNUT (VOANDZEIA-SUBTERRANEA THOUARS) SEED AND PRODUCTS

Some chemical and physical properties of bambara groundnut seed were d etermined. The proximate composition of the bambara groundnut seed was found to be 9.7% moisture, 16.6% protein, 5.9% fat, 2.9% ash, 4.9% cr ude fibre and 64.9% carbohydrate. Maximum water absorption was attaine d after soaking for 11, 9, 6, and 4 h at 25, 40, 50, and 60 degrees C, respectively: Maximum dehulling efficiency was attained when the seed s absorbed 54.7% water and drying for 9 h at 60 degrees C. Study of th e microstructure of the raw flour and seed showed that they contained differently shaped and sized starch granules and protein materials wit hin the cell wall in the cotyledon. Milling disorganised the arrangeme nt of these components in the cotyledons. In the steamed moin-moin ('o kpa'), all components in the seed had lost their identity and integrit y.