Some physico-chemical characteristics of Carapa procera (Meliaceae) oil produced in northern Côte d'Ivoire

The production and marketing of C. procera oil is still embryonic in tropical Africa. The general objective of this study is to promote and enhance this oil. The specific objectives were to evaluate the physico-chemical parameters of this vegetable oil. The evaluation of the oil of C. procera according to the AOAC and the AFNOR standards made it possible to find the following results: acidity: between 6.66 ± 0.75 g of oleic acid/100 g of oil and 8, 59 ± 1.03 g oleic acid/100 g oil; iodine value: between 11.75 ± 1.23 g I2/100 g of oil and 15.02 ± 1.54 g I2/100 g of oil; acid index: between 17.79±0.64 mg KOH/g of oil and 22.64± 0.97 mg KOH/g of oil; saponification index: between 179.89 ± 0.77 mg KOH/g oil and 188.90 ± 0.67 mg KOH/g oil; peroxide index: between 0.182 ± 0.023 meq O2/kg of oil and 0.388 ± 0.013 meq O2/kg of oil; refractive index: between 1.464 ± 0.087 nD, 20 °C and 1.468 ± 0.073 nD, 20°C; Insoluble impurities: between 0.12 ± 0.06% and 0.30 ± 0.04%; Density: between 0.928±0.002 g/ml and 0.943±0.033 g/ml; Humidity: between 0.35± 0.02% and 0.54± 0.01%; Unsaponifiable: between 1.05± 0.03% and 2.47± 0.06%. Regarding saturated fatty acids, the highest contents of myristic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid are respectively 28.40%; 13.59% and 1.51%. Regarding unsaturated fatty acids, the highest contents of oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid are respectively 7.25%; 0.24% and 3.81%. Ultimately, C. procera oil has physicochemical parameters similar to certain vegetable oils. Thus, it could be used in the industrial field.