Evaluation of a centrifugal impaction-type decorticator for shelling tung fruits

Abstract Tung, a potential tree-borne oilseed has many applications in paints, varnishes, foods and other non-food industries. De-shelling of tung fruit is an important process prior to its oil extraction. Manual de-shelling of tung fruits is a time consuming and tedious operation. Therefore, the effectiveness of a centrifugal impaction type decorticator for tung fruits was studied and evaluated for performance parameters. The performance test for maximum seed yield was evaluated on the basis of various performance indicators, which includes percentage of whole seed, broken seed, partially shelled fruit, unshelled fruit, machine efficiency and decortication efficiency. These performance indicators of the decorticator were evaluated at three different fruit moisture contents (8.65%, 12.13% and 15.61% d.b.) and at different speeds of rotating blades (1600, 1800 and 2000 rpm). The clearance between rotating blade and striking plate was fixed at 100 mm for optimum force. The best results of 52.24% recovery of whole seeds and machine efficiency of 74.63% were recorded at fruit moisture content of 8.65% (d.b.) with a blade speed of 1800 rpm. These set of conditions were preferred, because of its rapid operation, low human-energy, low breakage factor for the seed as well as relatively little amount of dust being emitted during de-shelling. Its wider use is thus recommended for a healthier working atmosphere.

[1]  Dipti Singh,et al.  Biodiesel production through the use of different sources and characterization of oils and their esters as the substitute of diesel: A review , 2010 .

[2]  E. Altuntaş,et al.  Some physical properties of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum L.) seeds , 2005 .

[3]  S. Naik,et al.  Moisture-dependent physical properties of jatropha fruit , 2009 .

[4]  Ji-Yeon Park,et al.  Production and Characterization of Biodiesel from Tung Oil , 2008, Applied biochemistry and biotechnology.

[5]  R. W. Schery,et al.  Plants for Man. , 1972 .

[6]  B. A Adewumi,et al.  Design, Fabrication and Testing of an Impact-Type Hand Operated Cocoa Pod Breaker , 2006 .

[7]  T. Okuda,et al.  l-3-Carboxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline, a new amino acid from seeds of Aleurites fordii , 1975 .

[8]  B. Serviss,et al.  Tungoil Tree (Aleurites fordii Hemsl.) (Euphorbiaceae): New to the Arkansas Flora , 2007 .

[9]  Luis F. Razon,et al.  Alternative crops for biodiesel feedstock , 2009 .

[10]  S. K. Swain,et al.  Moisture-dependent physical properties of Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) kernel , 2008 .

[11]  S. Das,et al.  Performance of centrifugal dehulling system for sunflower seeds , 1999 .

[12]  A. Chakraverty.  Post harvest technology of cereals, pulses and oilseeds , 1988 .

[13]  Rajan Jain,et al.  Development of a cashew nut sheller , 1997 .

[14]  S. Naik,et al.  Design, development and testing of hand-operated decorticator for Jatropha fruit , 2010 .

[15]  Sonal Anand,et al.  New Delhi, India , 2011 .

[16]  Idriss Audu,et al.  Development of a Concentric Cylinder Locust Bean Dehuller , 2004 .

[17]  Stephen Ogaji,et al.  Manually-powered continuous-flow maize-sheller , 2007 .

[18]  S. Naik,et al.  Physical properties of tung seed: An industrial oil yielding crop , 2011 .

[19]  J. Kintzinger,et al.  Aleuritin, a coumarinolignoid, and a coumarin from Aleurites fordii , 1989 .

[20]  A. M. Ambrose,et al.  Oilseed Processing, Detoxification and Toxicological Studies of Tung Meal , 1954 .