Determination of Some Physical Properties of Nutmeg ...

Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology 2(7): 669-672, 2010

ISSN: 2040-7467

© M axwell Scientific Organization, 2010

Submitted Date: September 18, 2010 Accepted Date: October 06, 2010 Published Date: October 25, 2010

Determination of Some Physical Properties of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Seeds

1M.H.R .O. A bdu llah, 2P.E. Ch’ng and 3T.H . Lim
1Department of Applied Sciences,

2Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences,
3Academy of Language Studies,

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 13500 Permatang Pauh, Penang, M alaysia

Abstract: Some physical properties of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) seeds were determined at moisture content

of 81.85% wet basis. The mean length, width and thickness of the seeds were 23.09, 21.20 and 18.64 mm,

respectively. The average value for geometric mean diameter, sphericity, mass, surface area, volume, true
density, bulk density and porosity were 20.88 mm, 90.45%, 5.270 g, 1388.85 mm2, 5860.00 mm3, 1199.18
kg/m 3, 686.60 kg /m3 and 41.83%, respectively. The coefficient of static friction on four types of structural

surface was found to be ranging from 0.206 (galvanized steel sheet) to 0.376 (rubber).

Key w ords: Myristica fragrans, nutmeg seed, physical properties

I N TR O D U C T IO N The major producers of nutmeg are Indonesia and
Grenada which dominate production and exports of both
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is a nutlike fruit products with a world market of 75 and 20%,
popularly cultivated and harvested for its spice. A nutmeg respectively. Other cou tries that supply nutmeg to the
tree on average can grow up to 12 m and begins to bear world market include India, Malaysia, Papua New G uinea
fruits after about six years of planting. Upon ripening, the and Sri Lanka, and other Caribbean countries. The main
nutmeg fruit will turn yellow and split open to expose a importers are the European Community, the United
shining dark b rown seed that is surrounded by a reddish States, Japan and India.
mace.
Physical properties such as size, shape, mass, surface
Nutmeg seed has many applications particularly in area, volum e, density, ect. are essential information in the
culinary, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The design of equipment for handling, processing and storing
nutmeg seed usually is processed to extract its oil. About of the nutmeg seeds. In recent years, physical and
30-55% of the seed consists of oils and 45-60% consists mechanical properties of seeds have been reported by
of solid matter including cellulose materials. There are many researchers. The physical properties have been
two types of oils extracted from the nutm eg seed, namely studied for various types of se eds, such as locust bean
the "essential oil" which accounts for 5-15% of the seed seed (Ogu njimi et al., 2002), quinoa seeds (Vilche
and the "fixed oil" or sometimes called the "nutmeg et al., 2003), amaranth seeds (Abalone et al., 2004), caper
butter" which accounts for 24-40% of the seed (Forrest seed (Dursun and D ursun, 2005), sweet corn seed
and Heacock, 1972). Due to its aroma, the essential oil (Bulent et al., 2006), cucurbit seeds (Milani et al., 2007),
extracted from the nutmeg seed has been used as a natural jatropha seed (Garnayak et al., 2008), roselle seeds
flavouring and as a perfume in the cosmetic industries (Sánchez-Mendoza et al., 2008), chia seeds (Ixtaina
(W inter, 1989). The oil has been used as a flavouring et al., 2008), fennel seed (Ahmadi and Mollazade, 2009)
agent to replace gro und nutm eg to avoid leaving particles and arigo seeds (Davies, 2010).
in foods and beverages. The oil has also been employed
as a flavour in dental creams in combination with Currently the harvesting and processing of nutmeg
pepperm int, methyl salicylate and cloves (Poucher and seeds in Malaysia are done manually. The operations are
Jouhar, 1991). In the pharmaceutical industry, nutmeg has slow and labour intensive. The aim of this work was to
been used as a form of medicine to treat many illnesses determine some physical properties of nutmeg seeds
ranging from those affecting the nervous system to the which could be useful in facilitating the design of
digestive system (W eil, 1965). machines to handle and process the seeds.

World production of nutmegs is estimated to average MATERIALS AND METHODS
between 10,000 and 12,000 tons per year with annual
world demand estimated at 9,700 tons (ITC, 2003) while Fresh nutm eg fruits were procured from a wet market
the production of mace is estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 tons. in Bukit Mertajam town located in Penang state, M alaysia

Corresponding Author: M.H.R.O. Abdullah, Department of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 13500
Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia
669

Res. J. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol., 2(7): 669-672, 2010

on 21st July, 2010. Upo n arrival, the fruits were processed where m = mass of individual seed (kg) and V = volume
man ually to detach the seeds from their shells and mace. of individual seed (m3).
Foreign materials, broken and immature seeds w ere
removed from the sample. The physical properties of the The bulk density (DB) was determined using the
seeds were determined at the temperature and relative method described by F raser et al. (1978) by filling an
humidity of 24ºC and 63%, respectively. emp ty 250 mL cylindrical container with nutmeg seeds.
The seeds were poured from a constant height, striking off
Moisture content of the seeds was determined using the top level and weighing. Bulk density was calculated
ASAE standard method (ASAE, 1993). The seeds were as:
dried in an air ventilated oven at 90ºC for 48 h. Mo isture
content (wet basis) was calculated as: (6)

(1) where,mB = mass of seeds (kg) and VB = volume of
container (m3).
whe re MC(%) is the m oisture content, mi is the
initial mass and md is the final mass of the se ed. Porosity (P) of the seed was determined as
(Thompson and Isaac, 1967):
The length (L), width (W) and thickness (T) of 100
seeds were m easured using a digital vernier calliper (7)
(Model CD-6BS-Mitutoyo Corporation, Japan) with
resolution of 0.01 mm. The measurements for each The coefficient of static friction (:s) was tested on
dimension were replicated 100 times. plywood, galvanized steel sheet, rubber and glass
surfaces. Seed was placed on the surface and raised
Geometric mean diameter (D) was found using the gradually by screw until the seed begin to slide. The angle
following equation (Mohsenin, 1970): that the inclined surface makes with the horizontal when
sliding begins w as measured. The coefficient of static
(2) friction was calculated using:

Sphericity (S) of the seed was calculated as (Mohsenin, (8)
1970):

(3) where, 2 = angle that the incline makes with the
horizontal when sliding begins
The mass of 100 individual seeds was measured
using an electronic balance (Model PS200/2000/C/2- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
RADWAG, Poland) with accuracy of 0.001 g. The
measurements w ere replicated 100 times. The results of some of the physical properties of the
nutmeg seeds measured in this study were shown in Table
Surface area, (A) was calculated using the formula 1. The length, width and thickness of the seeds were
given by McCabe et al. (1986): found to be in the range of 17.86-29.52, 16.45-27.51 and
13.86-23.81 mm, respectively. The calculated geom etric
(4) mean diameter ranges from 16.58 to 26.59 mm with mean
value of 20.88 mm. The mean sphericity of the nutmeg
Volume (V) for 10 individual seeds was determined seeds was 90.45% while the mean mass of the seeds was
using water displacement method (Dutta et al., 1988). The 5.270 g. The average surface area was found to be
seeds were weighed and coated with table glue and 1388.85 mm2. The mean volume determined for 10 seeds
allowed to dry in order to prevent water absorption. The was 5860.00 mm3. True density and bulk density of the
seed was low ered into a measuring cylinder containing seeds were 1199.18 and 686.60 kg/m3, respectively. The
water such that the seed did not float during immersion in average porosity of the nutmeg seeds was 41.83%.
water. The weight of water displaced by the seed was
recorded. The ratio of mass to volume of the seed was The coefficient of static friction of nutmeg seeds
treated as true density (DT): against four types of structural surface was determined.
The results were indicated in Table 2 . It was found that
(5) the rubber surface had the highest coefficient of static
friction followed by plywood, glass and galvanized steel

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Res. J. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol., 2(7): 669-672, 2010

Table 1: Some physical properties of nutmeg seeds

Physical properties Unit of No. of Mean Minimum Maximum S .D .
o b s e r v at io n value value value
m e a s u r em e n t 3.08
77.11 85.10 2.68
Moisture content (w .b.) % 5 81.85 17.86 29.52 2.49
Length mm 100 23.09 16.45 27.51 2.65
Width mm 100 21.20 13.86 23.81 2.51
Thickness mm 100 18.64 16.58 26.59 3.60
G e om e tr ic m ea n d ia m et er (G M D ) mm 100 20.88 77.09 98.80 1.852
Sp heric ity % 100 90.45 2.623 10.421 331.76
Ma ss g 100 5.270 863.38 2220.94 1735.38
Surface area mm2 1388.85 3400.00 8000.00 178.77
V o l um e mm3 100 5860.00 1058.33 1685.88 37.65
True density kg/m 3 10 1199.18 622.99 729.59 7.50
Bulk density kg/m 3 10 686.60 35.10 60.67
Po rosity % 10 41.83 S .D .
10 Minimum Maximum
value value 0.046
Table 2: Coefficient of static friction of nutmeg seeds on four types of structural surface 0.194 0.404 0.032
0.158 0.287 0.060
Unit of No. of Mean 0.213 0.488 0.041
0.176 0.344
Coefficient of static friction on measurement observation value

Plywood - 25 0.328

Galvanized steel sheet - 25 0.206

Rubber - 25 0.376

Glass - 25 0.264

sheet. This property is of paramount importance in W Width of seed, mm
determining the steepness of the storage container, hopper 2 Angle that the incline makes with the horizontal
or any other loading and unloading device (Davies, 2010).
when sliding begins
C O N C L U SI O N DB Bulk density, kg/m3
DT True density, kg/m3
The average m oisture content (wet basis) of the :S Coefficient of static friction
nutmeg seeds determined in this study was 81.85%. The
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