Physico-chemical Properties of Oil From Water Melon Citrullus Lanatus (thunb) Seeds

Oil from the peeled and unpeeled seeds of watermelon was extracted using petroleum ether (Boiling point 40 – 60OC). The result revealed that the oil from peeled 63% and from unpeeled 58% seed was high indicating that the seed can serve as good sources of raw materials for oil production on a large quantity for commercial purposes. The oil extracted was tested for chemical and physical properties. The result of the chemical properties test indicates the presence of the following parameters: iodine value 9.61mg/g, saponification value 123.2mg/g, peroxide value 3.00 milliequivalent O2/Kg, acid value 5.63 % and free fatty acid 2.83% for oil from peeled seed, while the oil of the unpeeled seed gave the following parameters: iodine value13.87mg/g, saponification value 61 6mg/g, peroxide value 4.00 milliequivalent O2/Kg,, acid value 4.54% and free fatty acid 2.28% for. The presence of these chemical properties make the oil from watermelon a good raw material to be used in industries for the production of cosmetics, adhesives, candle and soap. The result of the physical properties test showed the specific gravity (0.90g/cm3), refractive index 1.49019 and color (light yellow) of the oil from peeled seed and specific gravity 0.84 g/cm3, refractive index 1.49006 and color (light yellow) of unpeeled seed. Based on these findings, oil from watermelon seed can also be used as an alternative source of vegetable oil.