Physical properties of ackee apple (Blighia sapida) seeds

Physical properties often required for the designing of hopper, dehuller and sundry grain processing machineries were determined for ackee apple seeds at a moisture content of 9.88% (wet basis). The average seed length, width and thickness were 24.30, 19.70 and 12.90 rum, respectively, while sphericity, roundness and aspect ratio were 75.50%, 74.44% and 81.15%, respectively. True density, bulk density and porosity were 888.73 kg m(-3), 556.91 kg m(-3) and 37.07%, respectively. On three different surfaces, static coefficient of friction Varied from 0.38 to 0.46, while the angle of repose was essentially 25 degrees. The suspension air velocity for the seed, kernel and hull were 9.95, 9.78 and 5.45 m s(-1), respectively. The specific heat of the seed at 80 degrees C was 2.83 kJ kg(-1) K-1. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.