MOISTURE-DEPENDENT PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ÀBÈÈRÈ (PICRALIMA NITIDA) SEEDS

Some relevant engineering properties of Àbèèrè (Picralima nitida) seeds are needed for the design of its processing equipments. The geometric, gravimetric and frictional properties of Àbèèrè seed in the moisture content ranges of 7.98% - 47.77% (wb) were investigated. The average length, width, thickness, arithmetic and geometric mean diameters, sphericity, surface area, volume, true and bulk densities and angles of repose increased from 28.76 ? 30.75mm, 16.18 ? 19.62mm, 5.75 ? 7.15mm, 16.90 ? 19.17mm, 13.81 ? 16.11mm,0.48 ? 0.53, 600.94 ? 817.83mm2, 443.00 ? 717.92mm3, 2.49×10-3 ? 2.60×10-3g/mm3, 1.14×10-3 ? 1.50×10-3g/mm3and 27.97o ? 30.26o respectively as the moisture content increased from 7.98% to 47.77%. However, values for porosity decreased from 0.54 ? 0.42. The static coefficient of friction of Àbèèrè increased linearly over the three material surfaces ? plywood, stainless steel and glass ? with increasing moisture content from 0.445 ? 0.468, 0.286 ? 0.384 and 0.357 ? 0.389 respectively. The steel surface had the lowest static coefficient of friction whereas the plywood gave the highest value at all moisture content levels. The regression models developed for all the physical properties of the seeds had high coefficient of determination, R2.