Moisture Dependent Physical Properties of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Relevant for Design of Processing Machines

Abstract

This study investigated the degree of influence of moisture content on some physical properties of nutmeg. The nutmeg seeds were subjected to six different levels of moisture content (5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15% db). Moisture content had a significant effect on the physical properties (p <0.05). A decrease in moisture content led to a decrease in length, width, thickness, geometric, arithmetic, square and equivalent mean diameters. Moisture content had a linear relationship with sphericity, projected and surface area, bulk and true density while it had an inverse relationship with porosity and angle of repose. Moisture content had a significant effect on coefficient of friction of nutmeg on the four surfaces considered (glass, stainless steel, plywood and rubber). Glass, stainless steel, plywood and rubber have an increasing coefficient of friction respectively; this implies that materials will move easily with lesser resistance on glass and stainless steel compared to more resistance on plywood. The data obtained will guide engineers, food processors and technicians in accurate selection of machine parts in design and constructions of sorting, separating, cleaning equipment and post harvest machines which will eventually aid commercialization and efficient processing of the spice crop.

Physico‐mechanical properties of unripe grape berries relevant in the design of juicing machine

“…Nevertheless, berries shrinkage and wilt were more observable with increasing storage time. The decrease in length, width, and thickness with the decrement of moisture content was reported for ajwain seed (Singh & Meghwal, 2020), guna seed (Aviara, Gwandzang, & Haque, 1999), shea nut kernel (Aviara, Haque, & Izge, 2000), mango nut (Aviara, Iyilade, Oyeniyi, & Aremu, 2019), nutmeg (Jaiyeoba, Ogunlade, Kwanaki, & Fadele, 2020), jamun seed (Bajpai et al, 2020), and yellow passion fruit seeds (de Araujo et al, 2020).…”

“…, shea nut kernel(Aviara, Haque, & Izge, 2000), mango nut(Aviara, Iyilade, Oyeniyi, & Aremu, 2019), nutmeg(Jaiyeoba, Ogunlade, Kwanaki, & Fadele, 2020), jamun seed(Bajpai et al, 2020), and yellow passion fruit seeds(de Araujo et al, 2020).The results of measuring seeds dimensions can be expressed using the average and standard deviation. However, these averages and standard deviations do not provide enough information to the researcher.…”

Moisture - Influenced friction properties of ackee apple (Blighia sapida) seeds

“…This property is necessary in designing machines for the grain bulk flow and grain storage structures, especially in the design of hopper angles. Onwe et al (2020), reported a decreasing repose angle for two varieties of the investigated African star apple while Jaiyeoba et al (2020) reported the same for nutmeg seeds. The ackee seed moisture and the relationship of the angle of repose with the trends are shown in Equation ( 11 Normal and shear stresses.…”

Moisture Influences of Some Physical and Gravimetric Properties of Ackee Apple Seeds (Blighia sapida

“…Same trait holds for true density (714.3 -771.1 kg m -3 ). Unal et al (2013), Malik and Saini (2016) and Jaiyeoba et. al.…”

“…Thousand seed mass was obtained by multiplying a hundred-seeds mass by 10 which was repeated Five times for each sample lot. (Milani et al, 2007;Jaiyeoba et al, 2020).…”