The technological characteristics and the fatty acid composition of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Bail.) seed oil from two different regions of Cameroon were studied. The fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography on a capillary column. The oil content varied according to the region (44.9–54.7%). The iodine value (160), saponification value (190) and unsaponifiable matter content (1.6%) were similar for the two types of seeds examined. The oil was composed mainly of linoleic acid (25–30%) and a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) found to be α‐elaeostearic acid (48–56%). The latter fatty acid is subject to transformation during the esterification processes due to its trienic conjugated bonds. The triacylglycerol profile obtained by reversed phase liquid chromatography showed 20 triacylglycerols with two major ones identified as linoleodi‐α‐elaeostearic (29.7–33.1%) and tri‐α‐elaeostearic (13.1–15.9%).

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The effect of particle size and drying temperature on drying rate and oil extracted yields of Buccholzia coriacea (MVAN) and Butyrospermum parkii (ENGL) was investigated. Air drying studies carried out on B. coriacea and B. parkii, tropical food sources subject to high post-harvest losses, have resulted in the establishment of a significant difference between oil yields extracted from samples of various particle size pretreatments (paste, 4 mm, 8 mm and whole kernels) dried at 45 and 60°C with the highest oil yield given by the 4 mm thick slices dried at 45°C. The influence of temperature and particle thickness on the drying rate has been evaluated. The drying constants were found to depend on both temperature and particle thickness. Analysis of the oil extracted from the 4 mm thick slices dried at 45°C showed that apart from the acid value (52.4%), the saponification (181.2 mg g )1 KOH), peroxide (8.6 meq kg )1 ) and the unsaponifiable (7.43%) matter values of the extracted shea butter remain within the limits cited in the literature while a close analysis of the cake suggests that it could be a good mineral source.

The objective of this study was to extract the fat from Irvingia gabonensis kernels without using organic solvent but by using the enzyme aqueous oil extraction process. The aqueous dispersion of kernel flour of bush mango was treated with a protease (Alcalase ® ), a pectinase (Pectinex ® ) and a mixture of cell walldegrading enzymes (Viscozyme ® ) before centrifugation. The yield of oil extracted was calculated in comparison with the chemical extraction method using hexane as solvent. A central composite experimental design was used for the determination of optimized conditions. The results showed that aqueous extraction without enzyme allows recovering 27.4% of the kernel oil. When Alcalase, Pectinex and Viscozyme were added separately, the oil yields were 35.0, 42.2 and 68.0%, respectively. Optimized conditions for Viscozyme resulted in a model of oil yield with a high coefficient of determination (r 2 = 0.94). These conditions were the following: kernel-to-water ratio 0.11-0.19, concentration of enzyme 1.4-2.0%, and time of incubation 14-18 h. Confirmation of the model led to 83.0% oil yield after treatment of the kernel flour at a kernel-to-water ratio of 0.16, using 2% Viscozyme for 18 h. Under the same conditions, followed by addition of 1% Alcalase for 2 h, the yield was 90.0%.

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