A study on some physico-chemical properties of Turkey okra (Hibiscus esculenta L.) seeds

Chemical and physical properties of mature okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) seeds from Mersin (Büyüceli-Gülnar) in Turkey were evaluated. The chemical properties evaluated were moisture, crude protein, crude oil, crude ash, crude fiber, crude energy, water-soluble extract, ether-soluble extract and non-soluble HCl acid ash. The physical properties were evaluated at three moisture content levels of 6.35%, 9.87% and 15.22% d.b. In this moisture range, seed length, width, thickness, mass and geometric diameter increased from 5.178 to 5.507 mm, 4.786 to 4.960 mm, 4.121 to 4.362 mm, 0.059 to 0.067 g and 4.665 to 4.913 mm, respectively; the seed porosity, volume, projected area and terminal velocity increased from 48.92% to 52.08%, 47.38 to 54.68 mm 3, 0.225 to 0.333 cm2 and 5.20 to 5.68 ms-1, respectively; bulk density decreased from 636.10 to 577.99 kgm-3; the sphericity decreased from 0.905 to 0.897. The coefficient of static friction on iron and galvanized iron sheets increased with increasing moisture content. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.