Martin Kabantu

Some Physical Constants of Safou Oil: Physical Quality of Safou Oil Martin Kabantu

Within the framework of the valorization of the oilseeds of Congo, species under exploited are aimed. Among these, the safou, Dacryodes edulis, are the subject of this study. The transformation of the safou into oil constitutes a major stake to give a value added to this fruit which, only consumed as fruit, knows post harvest losses due to the softening which can reach 40 % of all its production. Crude oils and purified safou were obtained by hydrothermy from 6 batches of safou resulting from various trees and their physical properties were determined, namely: density, viscosity, index of refraction, aspect and coloring. The analyses of crude oils and purified reveal that oils of safou are non-siccative; they are comparable with other oils such of consumption as soybean, groundnut, corn, palm. Rough, oil presents 3 distinct phases at the naked eye; it presents 2 phases when it is purified on activated carbon. Generally of green or greenish color when it is rough, the oil of safou is of a gold yellow, pale and sometimes white green after purification on activated carbon.