Optimization of Grading Efficiency of a Specific Gravity Separator to Upgrade the Quality of (Moringa oleifera Lam.) Seeds

Abstract

The quality of Moringa oleifera seeds need to be ensured before sowing or using the seeds for other commercial purposes like oil extraction. In this study, an attempt was made to increase the efficiency of a specific gravity separator machine to upgrade the quality of moringa seed by suitably changing the machine settings viz., horizontal height (cm), vertical height (cm), and oscillation speed (rpm) of the deck and air blow rate (m3/hr). The optimization of moringa seed quality upgrading specific gravity machine has a horizontal height (cm), vertical height (cm), and air blow rate (m3/hr) adjustments of 0, 1.5, and 4.0 respectively at 450 rpm of deck oscillation. Under the above-optimized conditions, seed lot graded into five categories viz., A, B, C, D and E. Germination percentage of three grade viz., C, D, and E have 93.0%, 97.0%, and 96.0% respectively, which was higher than the germination percentage of ungraded bulk moringa seed lot (91.0%) used in this experiment. Seed with undesirable size and low in weight got separated as ‘A’ grade material. The optimization of moringa seed upgarding process showed the optimal processing conditions for grading the moringa seed based on physical property of the seed. The optimization of the moringa seed-grading machine would provide necessary information on combination of seed, operation and design parameters for enhancing seed quality.