Effect of Moisture Content on Physical Properties of Sal (Shorea robusta) Seeds

Abstract

Shorea robust commonly known as sal, play an important role in food, non-food industries. It is mainly processed for extraction of its oil. It can be used for cocoa based products and also used in bio-diesel production. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of moisture content (6.38 to 21.95% (d.b.)) on physical properties of sal seeds. Physical properties such as length, width, arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, aspect ratio, surface area, unit seed mass, bulk density, true density, porosity, and coefficient of friction with various surfaces namely, galvanised iron, plastic, ply wood and aluminium sheet were determined. The average dimensions of sal seed was increased with increase in moisture content ranging from 6.38 to 21.95% (d.b.). The unit seed mass was increased from 0.916 to 1.54 g with the increased in moisture content from 6.38 to 21.95% (d.b.). In the same moisture ranges, bulk density, true density and porosity were increased from 349.46 to 371 kg/m3, 807.9 to 963.5 kg/m3 and 56.74 to 62.24%, respectively. The coefficient of friction was increased linearly with increase in sal seed moisture content on four different surfaces namely ply wood, plastic, aluminium and galvanised iron sheet.