CHAPTER ONE

1.0. INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

There has been an increase in the world production of oilseeds over the last thirty

years (Murphy 1994); this would appear to be related to the increasing demand for

oilseed products and by-products as oilseeds are primarily grown for their oil and

meal.

Oils from most edible oilseeds are used in the food industry though there is

growing emphasis on industrial utilization as feedstock for several industries with

about 80% of the world production of vegetable oils for human consumption. The

remaining 20% utilization is between animal and chemical industries (Murphy

1994).

According to Rajagopal et al. (2005) bio-oils from oilseeds are used as Straight

Vegetable Oil (SVO) or as biodiesel (trans esterified oil) depending on type of

engine and level of blend of the oil; scent bean oil i.e. Ozaki Ijiliji or Azamu is

found mainly in the South-East of Nigeria and is not an exception. This

phenomenon has created a school of thought that it is better to use oilseeds as bio-

fuel which will lessen the competition for fossil fuels which are not renewable.

Fossil fuels are not only costly in terms of price but are also costly to the

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environment as they degrade land pollute water and cause a general destabilization

of the ecosystem with global warming as an end result. Furthermore crude oil

wields socio-political power that often dictates the pace of economic growth in

specific locations especially non-oil producing nations.

Nevertheless the petroleum industry requires a greater quantity of oil to meet its

demand.

Demand however by the food industry alone is not secure for many developing

countries like Ghana that depend on imports of vegetable oil and fossil fuels. In

order to meet the required amounts needed by all industries these fats and oils

must be available in large quantities locally with an effective extraction process at

an affordable cost. The ability of a particular oilseed to fit into the growing

industries depends on its utilization potential rate of production availability and

ease of the processing technology. Thus while some oilseeds are being largely

utilized in the oil processing industries quite a number of oilseeds are under-

exploited.

Generally oils and fats from seeds and nuts constitute an essential part of man’s

diet. Fats and oils together with proteins carbohydrates vitamins and minerals

are the main nutrients required by the human body. Fats and oils are rich sources of

energy containing two and a half times the calories of carbohydrates (per unit

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weight). In addition to being a source of vitamins A D E and K fats and oils also

contain essential fatty acids. These essential fatty acids are not manufactured by

the body and must be obtained from diets with linoleic oleic and linoleic acids as

examples of unsaturated fatty acids (NRI 1995).

Modern processing of vegetable oils yields valuable products such as oleo

chemicals. Oleo chemicals are now largely being used in the manufacture of many

industrial products namely building auxiliaries candles detergents and cleaning

agents cosmetics fire-extinguishing agents flotation agents food emulsifiers

insecticides lubricants paints paper medicine and chemicals. The meal or cake is

used in the formulation and preparation of livestock feeds and food additives.

The production of oil plants takes third place in the world production in terms of

value after starchy plants and fruits and ahead of beverages and stimulants. Edible

seeds and nuts noted for their oil contents include palm nut coconut soya bean

olive groundnut sunflower seed and cottonseed while non-edible seeds and nuts

include jatropha seed neem seed and castor bean. Moreover bean oil has

strengthened its dominant role among fats and oils produced based on its quality

and nutritional grade. Bean oil contains linoleic oleic and linoleic acids that are

found in many plant oils. Shortage of these fatty acids leads to deficiency

symptoms especially in growing children and animals. Bean oil has the highest

content of lecithin (1.1-3.2%) which is a surface-active compound used as an

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emulsifier in the food and pharmaceutical industries and other industries (Sigmund

and Gustav 1991).

Among the industries that use oils and fats from oilseeds apart from the food

industry are the beauty pharmaceuticals aromatherapies building and

construction and the petroleum industry.

1.2. Problem Statement

Many plants have been identified as sources of oil with some of the plant species

and their oil extracted and used as medicines and food. However very few of these

species have their oil characteristics determined.

Because of the high demand of oils for various purposes including medicinal

perfumery soap making insecticides et al. Imported oils are very expensive to

meet the demands of our local consumer industries; therefore it becomes

necessary to source and synthesize these oils locally. Since these oils can be

produced locally it gives no reason for their importation or at least should reduce

the rate at which these oils are imported and give attention to local production.

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1.3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is to

a. Find the percentage composition of oil in the bean seed

b. To determine the effect of particle size on the yield of the oil.

1.4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Exploitation of fruits and seeds as a source of oil can help to reduce oil costs by

diversifying the sources for this commodity. Data generated from this study will

benefit industries for production of oils for various purposes.

In addition the content and composition of fatty acids of plant seed oils can serve

as plants taxonomic markers.

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1.5. JUSTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH

Some factors and benefits of bean (“Ozaki Ijiliji or Azamu”) oil make the research

worthwhile;

1 The bean is readily available.

2 Oil from this particular bean is medicinal and applicable in pharmaceutical

industries.

3 Small scale industries coming up as a result of oil extraction can reduce

unemployment.

4 It can attract foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria.

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