Moisture Influences of Some Physical and Gravimetric Properties of Ackee Apple Seeds (Blighia sapida

Abstract

This research evaluated and determined some moisture-influenced physical and gravimetric properties of Blighia sapida seeds relevant to machine design at 11.9, 17.0, 22.0, 27.0 and 32.0% moisture levels (wet basis). These properties are vital in handling and seed process design. With increasing seed moisture (11.9 to 32.0%), there was no statistically significant effect on the seed axial dimensions, principal diameters, sphericity and surface area. This is because seed axial dimensions relatively determine other properties afore stated. However, there were significant and linear increases in thousand seed mass (189.3 – 230.3 g), bulk (377.0 - 418.3 kg m-3) and true (714.3 - 771.1 kg m-3) densities but decrease in porosity was not significant. Increase in bulk and true densities is due to the rate of increase in the seed mass being more rapid than the rate of increase in its volume, as the seed moisture increased. A non-linear decrease showed in seed volume (3.4-3.2 cm3). Behavioral patterns of ackee seeds and their investigated properties, under increasing moisture was expressed using regression models. Required primary data for the design of handling techniques and process machinery for ackee apple seeds were generated.