Compression Loading Behaviour of Anonna squamosa Seeds for Sustainable Biodiesel Synthesis

Abstract

Due to the increasing demand for sustainable energy, non-edible oilseed crops are being explored as alternatives to traditional edible oils. Annona squamosa seeds are rich in oil content (24%/100 g) and often discarded as agricultural waste. Determination of mechanical properties of the seeds under compression loading is significant for designing machinery for its handling and processing. Thus, the present study assessed the effect of loading speeds, LS, (5.0–25 mm/min) and moisture contents, ms, (8.0–32.5%, db) on rupture force and energy, bioyield force and energy, deformation, and hardness at the seed’s horizontal and vertical orientations using a Testometric Universal Testing Machine. The results indicate that both LS and mc significantly (p<0.05) affect the mechanical properties of the seeds. Particularly, horizontal loading orientations consistently exhibited higher values for the selected compressive properties than vertical orientations, except for deformation at varying LS. The correlations between LS, mc, and the compressive parameters of the seed were mostly linear, at both orientations, with increasing mc from 8.0 to 32.5% (db). High correlation coefficients (R2) were obtained for the relationship between the studied parameters, LS, and mc. The data obtained would provide crucial insights into optimizing oil extraction processes by enabling the design of efficient machinery that accommodates the unique characteristics of the seeds. Thus, the findings contribute to the growing interest in alternative biodiesel feedstock, demonstrating that A. squamosa seeds can be repurposed for economic and environmental benefits.