Extraction and Characterization of Rubber Seed Oil

The oil extracted from Rubber seeds (RS), using n-hexane yielded 42.967 ± 0.59% oil content. The oil was liquid at room temperature, with brownish yellow colour and with an unpleasant odour. The oil was analyzed for it physico-chemical properties using standard methods. The results from the characterization are as follows; viscosity (0.420 ± 0.16 poise), specific gravity (0.923 ± 0.10), (28.667 ± 0.35(°C) acid value (32.000 mg KOH/g), saponification value (185.333 mg KOH/g.), iodine value (139.703 g I2 /100g), peroxide value (14.300 mequiv O2 /kg oil), free fatty acid (16.096 %), Ester Value (135.330 ± 2.99 mgKOH/g) and heat of combustion (9544.528± 32.14 gcal/g). The high saponification value (185.333 mg KOH/g.) suggests that it will good for soap formulations. The iodine value (139.703 g I2 /100g) classified it as a semi - drying oil. The peroxide value (14.300 mequiv O2 /kg oil) falls above the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) recommended peroxide values (10 mequiv O2 /kg oil) for edible oils and its free fatty acid (16.096 %) value being above 5% makes it non-edible oil. The physicochemical of the oil suggest that it exhibit non-edible industrial potential