Lipids Characterization and Industrial Potentials of Pumpkin Seeds (Telfairia occidentalis) and Cashew Nuts (Anacardium occidentale)

Oil from Telfaria occidentalis and Anarcardium occidentale has been extracted and characterized. The lipid content of the Telfaria occidentalis and Anarcardium occidentalis were 58.41% and 42.15% respectively. The physicochemical parameters of Telfaria occidentalis and Anarcardium occidentale seeds were; boiling point; (58.90, 62.60 o C), melting point; (18.50, 21.80 o C), refractive index; (1.462, 1.498), specific gravity; (0.87, 0.69) saponification value; (91.16, 92.57) iodine value; (51.52, 47.20), acid value; (0.76, 3.74) ester value; (90.40, 88.87), % free fatty acid; (.38, 1.88) and peroxide value; (11.75, 15.23) respectively. Oils from these seeds were found to exhibit the needed potentials for utilization in paint and food industries and as biofuel.