ABSTRACT

 There 'is high demand of plant oil because of the unsaturation of its fatty acid. African breadfruit is also a seasonal crop which is underutilized when in excess. Again, the properties of oil are also affected by the solvent used for the extraction. The above problems necessitated this study to evaluate the effects of petroleum ether and n-hexane as solvents on the oil yield and properties of African breadfruit oil. Two extracting time ( 4h and 6h) were used to determine their effect on the oil. The properties analyzed were physicochemical and mineral composition of the oil samples. Soxhlet (solvent) extraction technique was used in extracting the oil. The experimental design used was completely randomized design (CRD). The density of the oil ranged from 0.8319 to 0.8703. Peroxide value ranged from 4 .1650 mg/g to 5.9900 mg/g. The oil yield ranged from 16.6100 % to 19.3100 % with oil extracted using hexane for 6h having the highest oil yield (19.3100 %). The oil also had the highest value for specific gravity, saponification value, acid value, Calcium, Sodium and vitamin A content. The Potassium content ranged from 7.5100 mg/l00g to 8.7750 mg/l00g. The Magnesium content ranged from 19.700 mg/l00g to 30.7500 mg/IO0g. Oil extracted for 6 hours using petroleum ether had the highest peroxide value (5.9900), relative density (0.8703), Magnesium (30.7500 mg/l00g) and Potassium composition (8.7750 mg/lOOg). There is significant difference in the extracting time of the oil samples except for saponification value of oil extracted using hexane and vitamin A content of oil extracted using petroleum ether. There is no significant value in the Sodium and Calcium content of oil extracted at 6 hours using Petroleum ether and n-Hexane. Oil extracted using n-Hexane for 6 hours was recommended although it will require refining