Characterization of Oil from Trunk Fish (Moryrus Rume)

Abubakar Babanna  Ayuba; Tajudeen Kolawole  Ajiboye; Oluwagbemi Caleb Agboola; Richard Olamide Olanite

Abubakar Babanna Ayuba National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research
Tajudeen Kolawole Ajiboye University of Ilorin
Oluwagbemi Caleb Agboola Independent National Electoral Commission
Richard Olamide Olanite University of Ilorin

Keywords: Mormyrus rume, extruder, fish oil, characterization, free fatty acid value.

Abstract

Fish is an important source of food that provide high protein content and essential amino acids to the body. Fish oil produced internationally (marine fish) are expensive to procure and occasionally unavailable. However, expression of oil from freshwater fish species will provide cheap, abundant and readily available product. This study therefore, aimed at the expression of fish oil from Mormyrus rume. A total of 10kg of Mormyrus rume was procured from Kainji Lake Basin, New Bussa Niger State. The fish were divided into three samples 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Sample 1 was pre-heated for a period of 10 minutes, at maximum temperature of 90⁰C, sample 2 for 15 minutes at a maximum temperature of 100⁰C and sample 3 for 20 minutes at maximum of 100⁰C. After pre-heating, samples were immediately transferred to laboratory for oil expression using a continues mechanical extruder. The characterization of the expressed fish oil was measured using the specific gravity, saponification value and free fatty acid value. Results showed that the fish oil from samples 1, 2, and 3 had specific gravity of 0.910, 0.907 and 0.909 respectively, the saponification value of 122.110mg/KOH/g, 124.582mg/KOH/g and 123.102mg/KOH/g respectively while the free fatty acid value was found to be 1.286% for sample 1, 1.342% for sample 2, and sample 3, 1.401. It is observed that the fish oil values ware within the acceptable standard value which are suitable for application in pharmaceutical and food industries. Therefore, Moryrus rume has the potential of producing fish oil for industrial and domestic use.

Author Biographies

Abubakar Babanna Ayuba , National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research

Product Development and Engineering/Research Operation

New Bussa, Niger State. Nigeria

Tajudeen Kolawole Ajiboye, University of Ilorin

Mechanical Engineering

Ilorin, Nigeria

Oluwagbemi Caleb Agboola, Independent National Electoral Commission

Technical Unit

Nigeria

Richard Olamide Olanite, University of Ilorin

Mechanical Engineering

Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

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