Thermophysical properties of Detarium microcarpum seed flour

Thermal and physical properties of Detarium microcarpum seed flour, were studied. Thermophysical properties such as apparent density, bulk density, porosity and water activity of dry ground powder of the sample were determined and found to be 1.79g/cm3, 0.44g/cm3, 75.51% and 0.549, respectively. The Brix of the aqueous solutions of the sample ranged from 1.45 to 4.00°Bx. Thermal properties studied include glass transition (Tg), which varied from -74.9 to -73.2°C for the aqueous solutions of the sample and showed two midpoints at 11.2 and 59°C for the dry powdered D. microcarpum. Heat capacity of the aqueous solutions of the sample ranged from 1.79 to 18.83J/g°C, while dry sample heat capacity was from 0.81 to 1.79J/g°C. There was significant effect (P<0.05) of heating temperature and sample concentration on the variation observed in heat capacity. The glass transition temperature and specific heat capacity also varied significantly (P<0.05). A nonlinear regression model provided a good fit of the specific heat capacity data from 5°C upward for the aqueous media, while dry sample data gave a good fit with a linear relationship with temperature. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.