ARTICLE IN PRESS

Biosystems Engineering (2004) 88 (1), 127–129 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com

doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2004.01.009
PH}Postharvest Technology

RESEARCH NOTE

Some Physical Properties of Sesame Seed

T.Y. Tunde-Akintunde1; B.O. Akintunde2
1
Department of Food Science and Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria;
e-mail of corresponding author: toyositunde@yahoo.co.uk
2
Federal College of Agriculture, I.A.R. and T., P.M.B. 5029, Ibadan, Nigeria; e-mail: toyositunde@yahoo.co.uk

(Received 11 June 2003; accepted in revised form 21 January 2004; published online 24 March 2004)

In order to design equipment for improved processing of sesame seed (Sesamum indicum L.), some of the
physical properties were determined at moisture content of 3
4% w.b. The average dimensions of sesame seed
viz., length, width and thickness were 2
80, 1
69 and 0
82 mm, respectively. The average geometric mean
diameter, sphericity, surface area and density were 1
56 mm, 0
56, 7
80 mm2 and 1224 kg m3. The average
coefficient of friction varied from 0
39 on glass to 0
54 on plywood, while the angle of repose was 32
08.
# 2004 Silsoe Research Institute. All rights reserved
Published by Elsevier Ltd

1. Introduction
Sesame seed, also known as beniseed (Sesamum
indicum L.) is a rich source of oil (44%) and protein
(19–25%). Sesame seed oil is used as a cooking oil and
raw material for the production of some industrial
materials including paints, margarine and varnishes. Its
protein has a high desirable amino-acid profile and is
nutritionally as good as soya bean protein. The usual
method of sesame seed oil extraction at the domestic
level is by pounding the seeds in a mortar. Hot water is
then poured into the mortar causing the oil to float to
the surface, from where it is skimmed off. This method is
however slow, labour intensive and results in low yields
of oil. Thus to design equipment to improve the existing
processing method, the physical properties of the seed
has to be known.
The specific objectives of this study were to determine
some of the physical properties such as linear dimen-
sions, sphericity, geometric mean diameter, surface area,
bulk and true density, and static coefficient of friction
against selected surfaces and angle of repose.
2. Materials and methods
The sesame seed used in the study was obtained from
a local market in Ibadan, a Western state in Nigeria.
The seeds were cleaned manually and the foreign matter,
1537-5110/$30.00
such as stones, dirt and broken seeds was removed. The
moisture content of the seeds was determined using a
Indosan moisture meter and the average moisture
content was 3
4% w.b. Twenty seeds were randomly
selected and the three linear dimensions namely length,
width and thickness were measured using a micrometer
with a reading accuracy within 0
01 mm. The geometric
mean diameter De was determined using the equation
given by Moshenin (1970)
D3e ¼ LWT ð1Þ
where: L is the length in mm, W is the width in mm, and
T is the thickness in mm. While the sphericity f was
determined by
f ¼ WT=L2 ð2Þ
The surface area S was determined by the relationship
given by McCabe et al. (1986):
S ¼ pD2e ð3Þ
Sixty samples, each of 100 seeds were picked at random
and weighed by means of a Mettler balance PM 4000
with 0
01 g graduations and the average reading was
taken (Visvanathan et al., 1996). The volume and
density of each seed was determined using a method
described by Dutta et al. (1972). A group of 100 seeds
with a known average weight was dropped into a
container filled with water. The displaced water which is
collected and weighed is used to calculate equivalent
127 # 2004 Silsoe Research Institute. All rights reserved
Published by Elsevier Ltd
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
128 T.Y. TUNDE-AKINTUNDE; B.O. AKINTUNDE

Notation

De geometric mean diameter, mm T thickness of seed, mm

L length of seed, mm W width of seed, mm
S surface area of kernel, mm2 f sphericity of seed

volume of water and hence volume of seed. Due to the Table 1

short duration of experiment, moisture adsorption was Some physical properties of sesame seed
found to be negligible and therefore seeds were not Physical properties Number of Mean Standard
coated for moisture adsorption prevention. The bulk observations value deviation
density was determined by pouring grains into a 52 ml
Length L , mm 20 2.80 0.32
container from a height of 15 cm, striking the top level Width W, mm 20 1.69 0.19
and then weighing the contents. Thickness T, mm 20 0.82 0.10
The static coefficient of friction against different Geometric mean dia, 20 1.56 0.17
surfaces (mild steel, galvanised sheet metal, glass and mm
Sphericity 20 0.56 0.09
plywood) was determined using a cylinder of radius
Surface area, mm2 20 7.80 0.47
70 mm and depth 70 mm filled with seeds. With the Mass of 100 seeds, g 60 0.203 0.03
cylinder resting on the respective surface, the surface Volume of 100 60 0.167 0.02
was raised gradually until the filed cylinder just started seeds, cm3
to slide down according to the method of Singh and True density, kg m3 60 1224 0.24
Bulk density, kg m3 10 580 0.05
Goswami (1996). The angle of inclination was read from
Angle of repose, deg 10 32.0 2.46
a graduated scale. Static coefficient of
The angle of repose was determined by allowing the friction on
seeds to fall on a circular plate of diameter 13 cm from a Glass 10 0.39 0.04
height of 15 cm to form a natural heap. The angle of Galvanised sheet 10 0.41 0.04
metal
repose was calculated from the diameter and height of
Mild steel 10 0.52 0.07
heap and the average value of the angle of repose was Plywood 10 0.54 0.05
recorded.

plywood ranged from 0
39 to 0
41, 0
39 to 0
42, 0
47 to

3. Results and discussion 0
55 and 0
51 to 0
59, respectively.

The value of all the properties measured is sum-

marised in Table 1. The length ranged from 2
50 to
2
95 mm, width ranged from 1
59 to 1
93 mm and
thickness ranged from 0
71 to 0
90 mm. The geometric
mean diameter ranged from 1
46 to 1
63 mm while the
corresponding surface area ranged from 6
70 to
8
97 mm2. The sphericity of the seeds ranged from 0
54
to 0
60, which indicates that the shape of the seeds
makes it difficult to roll on surface. However, the flat
shape of the seeds enables the seeds to slide and this
property is important in the development of hopper and
dehuller designs for sesame seeds. This is because most
flat seeds slide easier than spherical seeds, which roll on
structural surfaces. The seeds have a true density of
1212–1241 kg m3. This shows that the seeds are heavier
than water and this characteristic can be used to design
separation or cleaning process for seeds since lighter
fractions will float. The angle of repose ranges from 30
3
to 34
18. This is a result of the flat shape of the seeds,
which facilitates sliding. The static coefficient of friction
against glass, galvanised sheet metal, mild steel and
4. Conclusions
(1) The average length, width and thickness of sesame
seed were 2
80, 1
69 and 0
82 mm, respectively.
(2) The average sphericity is low therefore the seed
cannot roll but can slide.
(3) The average density of 1224 kg m3 indicates that
water can be used for sesame seed separation or
cleaning processes since the seed is heavier than water.
(4) The average angle of repose was 30
38.
(5) The average coefficient of friction against plywood,
0
54, was the highest while 0
39 for glass was the
lowest.
References
Dutta S K; Nema V K; Bhardwaj R K (1972). Physical
properties of gram. Journal of Agricultural Engineering
Research, 12, 128–137
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SOME PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SESAME SEED 129

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