Extraction and Characterization of oil from Avocado Pear Seed (Persea Americana) and African Pear Seed (Dacryodes Edulis)

The oils analyzed were extracted from the seed of Avocado pear (Persea Americana) purchased from Aba main market Abia state Nigeria and African pear (Dacryodes Edulis) purchased from Mile one market Port Harcourt Nigeria, using n-hexane as the solvent and the characterization of the oil was carried out. The iodine value for Avocado and African pear seed oil were 171.31g/100g and 81.35gI 2/100g, Peroxide value 3.52 (avocado seed oil) and 5.28 (Africa pear seed oil), Free fatty acid 29.92mg KOH/g and 11.22mg KOH/g Saponification value 250.28mg KOH/g (avocado seed oil) and 210.45 mg KOH/g (African pear seed oil), Acid value of 59.84mg KOH/g (avocado seed oil) and and 22.44mg KOH/g, Viscosity (27 oC) of 53mPa/s (avocado seed oil) and 42mPa/s (African pear seed oil), Specific gravity of 0.954 and 0.816 for avocado and African pear seed oil and the percentage oil yield for avocado pear seed oil is 9.1% and that of African pear seed 23.2%. This study has shown the physicio-chemical characterization of African and avocado pear seed oil. They can be used as an alternative resource for fat and oil. The fatty acid composition of the oil suggests that they have some industrial potential.