EXPRESSION OF OIL FROM SESAME SEEDS

Investigation was carried out on the effects of heating temperature (4 0 to 85-degrees-C), heating time (5.0 to 27.5 min), moisture content ( 6.1 to 12.0%) and applied pressure (15 and 20 MPa) on the yield, color , refractive index, and specific gravity of oil expressed from sesame seeds using a laboratory press. The yield of oil was affected but the color, specific gravity and refractive index were not affected by proc essing conditions within the range considered. The oil yield was incre ased with decrease in moisture content of sample after heating. Highes t oil yield (based on total mass expressed) of 33.5% corresponding to an expression efficiency (based on seed oil content) of 65.7% was obta ined when sesame seeds were conditioned to moisture content of 6.1%, h eated at 85-degrees-C for 20 min, and expressed at a pressure of 20 MP a. The average values of refractive index and specific gravity were 1. 47 and 0.918 respectively while the color of the oil was yellow (i.e. a Munsell color notation of 2.5Y).