Note: Physical Properties of High Oleic Sunflower Seeds

E.M. Santalla1 and R.H. Mascheroni2,*

1
Depto de Ingenierı´a Quı´mica, Programa Tecnologı´a de Semillas,
Facultad de Ingenierı´a UNCPBA. Av. del Valle 573, B7400JWI Olavaria, Argentina
2
CIDCA (Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnologı´a de Alimentos) and
MODIAL (Facultad de Ingenierı´a, UNLP) 47 y 116, 1900 La Plata, Argentina

High oleic sunflower seeds evaluated at 5.6% moisture content (dry basis) showed a surface area of
approximately 102.41 mm2 with an average length, width, thickness and unit mass of 11.526, 5.008 and
2.809 mm and 0.055 g, respectively. Corresponding values for the kernel were 8.802, 3.897 and 1.907 mm
and 0.036 g. The mean equivalent diameter and sphericity of the seeds were 5.49 mm and 0.46, respectively,
while corresponding values for the kernels were 4.01 mm and 0.44. True density increased, within a
moisture range of 4–26% d.b., between 652 and 708 kg/m3 for the seed, between 1015 and 1057 kg/m3 for
the kernel and between 636 and 760 kg/m3 for the hull. The bulk density decreased from 386 to 373 kg/m3
for seeds and from 260 to 220 kg/m3 for hulls and increased from 535 to 553 kg/m3 for the kernels. Porosity
increased from 41.2 to 47.1% in seeds, from 47.2 to 47.7% in kernels and from 59.2 to 70.1% in hull.
Terminal velocity of seeds increased with moisture content between 2.8 and 5.5 m/s for seed, between 1.8
and 3.8 m/s for kernel and between 1.1 and 1.9 m/s for hull. Drag coefficient decreased when moisture
content increased and varied between 4.7 and 1.4 in seed and between 12.5 and 3.1 in kernel. Angle of
repose increased with moisture content between 25 and 46
in seeds, between 35 and 55
in kernels
and between 49 and 66
in hull on different surfaces and resulted higher for hull and kernel than for seed.
The coefficient of static friction was higher for kernel than that for seed and hull and also was higher
on wood (with grain perpendicular to the direction of the motion) and lower on acrylic and galvanised
iron. This coefficient increased with moisture content from 0.23 to 0.50 for seed, from 0.37 to 0.69
for kernel and from 0.31 to 0.60 for hull. All engineering properties evaluated showed a linear dependence
with moisture content, leading to simple and accurate formulae, adequate to predict their variation in the
range of moisture considered.

Key Words: sunflower seeds, physical properties, engineering

INTRODUCTION produced, while it is considered as a special oilseed.

By all means, the knowledge of the behaviour of these
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid varieties are modified grains, specially during post-harvest proces-
almost exclusively used for commercial oilseed produc- sing, is not yet available and the proper design or
tion. Native sunflower oil is mainly used for human selection of handling, drying, dehulling and extraction
consumption since it contains a large amount of essen- equipment is not possible without specific properties.
tial linoleic acid (w6 C18:2) which gives the sunflower The knowledge of the morphology and size distribu-
seed oil a high nutritional value. In addition, ‘high oleic’ tion of high oleic sunflower seeds is essential for the
varieties have been obtained by chemical mutagenesis adequate design of the equipment for cleaning, grading
(Garcés et al., 1989) accumulating oleic acid (w 9.C18:1) and separation. Gravimetric properties are useful for
up to 85% in the seed oil. This oil is nutritionally desired the design of equipment related to aeration, drying,
to increase the mono-unsaturated level in the diet. The storage and transport (Kachru et al., 1994). Bulk density
use of this oil from a modified grain is so widespread determines the capacity of storage and transport systems
that the researchers consider that this differential oil while true density is useful for separation equipment;
from high oleic sunflower will dominate the type of porosity of the mass of grains determines the resistance
sunflower to be cultured (Fitch Haumann, 1998). The to airflow during aeration and drying of grains.
current problem is the relatively low volume of this grain Aerodynamic properties such as terminal velocity
and drag coefficient are useful for air conveying or
pneumatic separation of materials in such a way that
*To whom correspondence should be sent when air velocity is higher then terminal velocity lifts
(e-mail: [email protected]). the particles.
Received 2 April 2003; revised 26 September 2003. The frictional properties as the angle of repose and
the coefficient of external friction are recognised by
Food Sci Tech Int 2003;9(6):0435–8
ß 2003 Sage Publications engineers as important properties concerned with
ISSN: 1082-0132 rational design of grain bins and other storage structures
DOI: 10.1177/1082013203040756

435
436 E.M. SANTALLA AND R.H. MASCHERONI

whose operation is influenced by the compressibility

and flow behaviour of materials (Kachru et al., 1994).
The objective of this study was to contribute to
the knowledge of high oleic sunflower seeds, to
improve and adequate the post-harvest operations and
equipment through the investigation of some moisture-
dependent physical properties as size distribution,
morphology, gravimetric, aerodynamic and frictional
properties of seeds, kernels and hulls. This knowledge is
important to minimise the effect of an inadequate use
of equipment that could affect the quality of the seed
and its oil, and/or originates higher operation costs. Figure 1. Characteristic dimensions of high oleic
sunflower seed and kernel. The dotted lines
represent the inner kernel. L, l – length; W,w – width;
MATERIAL AND METHODS T, t – thickness.

Samples

Trisum 568 (Mycoyen-Morgan), a striated high oleic 0.5 kg were randomly taken from the bulk sample. From
genotype of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was each of three 0.5 kg sub-samples, 200 seeds were picked
selected to carry out this study. Ten bulk samples, out and the 600 seeds thus obtained were mixed
each consisting of 5 kg of seed, were procured from thoroughly. Finally, 100 seeds were randomly selected
1998/99 harvest season from Oriente, Coronel Dorrego, and labelled for easy identification (Dutta et al., 1988,
Argentina, after 80 days of physiological maturity stage. Joshi et al., 1993). For each individual seed and its
The seeds were manually cleaned for foreign matter, kernel, three principal dimensions (Gupta and Das,
broken and immature seeds. The initial moisture content 1997), namely length, width and thickness were
of the seeds was about 13% d.b. Whole kernels and hull measured using a micrometer (least count 0.01 mm).
were both obtained from manual dehulling of the seeds. Because of the irregular shape of the sunflower seed
Seeds, kernels and hulls were packed separately and kernel, only the greatest values of both, width
in double-layered low-density polyethylene bags sealed and thickness were taken (Figure 1). Each seed and
and stored at low temperature (5
C). For each test, kernel were weighed on a precision electronic balance
the required amount of seed and kernel was taken out reading to 0.001 g. The equivalent diameter (De) and
and allowed to warm up for approximately 2 h (Joshi sphericity (
) for both seed and kernel were determined
et al., 1993). To evaluate the effect of moisture content using the following expressions according to Mohsenin
of the sample on some of its physical properties, samples (1978):
of seeds, kernels and hulls at the desired moisture
levels were prepared by adding calculated amounts
of distilled water and sealing in separate polyethylene De ¼ ðLWTÞ1=3 ð1Þ
bags. The samples were kept at low temperature in
¼ ðLWTÞ1=3 =L ð2Þ
a refrigerator to avoid the growth of microorganisms.
Before starting a test, the required quantity of the
sample was taken out of the refrigerator and was where L, W and T are length, width and thickness
allowed to warm up to room temperature (Shepherd and respectively.
Bhardwaj, 1986). Seeds were classified into three categories, namely,
large, medium and small, using ASTM sorting sieves.
Methods This classification simplifies the operation conditions
(storage, drying, dehulling). The distribution of seeds
The physical properties of the seeds were determined
by number as well as by mass for each category of size
at the following moisture contents: 4.2, 8.6, 14.3, 21.1
was determined. Relationships between seed and kernel
and 26.4% d.b. in seeds; 5.0, 8.1, 13.2, 19.3 and 23.8%
dimensions were also established using regression
d.b. in kernels and 7.5, 14.4, 18.2 and 23.2% d.b. in
analysis.
hulls. Moisture content was determined by oven drying
High oleic sunflower seeds tend to have the shape
method (ASAE Standard, 1999).
of a cone-elliptical cylinder with a major axis signifi-
Spatial Dimensions, Size, Sphericity, Surface Area cantly greater than the intermediate axis. The seeds
may therefore be described as being oval in shape.
In order to determine the size and shape of the seed The surface area (S ) was determined according to two
and its components, three sub-samples, each weighing different empirical relationships developed in terms of
 Physical Properties of Sunflower Seeds 437

the principal dimensions (Kachru et al., 1994): Frictional Properties

The emptying or dynamic angle of repose () was

3 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
S ¼ L½3ðW 0 þ T 0 Þ  ð3W 0 þ T 0 ÞðW 0 þ 3T 0 Þ ð3Þ determined for seed, kernel and hull and its variation
4 with moisture content for each sample was also
13 measured. A plywood box with a section of 0.30 
S¼ ðW þ TÞL ð4Þ 0.30 m2 and a removable front panel was filled with
11
grains. The front panel was quickly removed, allowing
the seeds to flow and assume a natural slope. The angle
where W0 and T0 represent the half values of the width of repose was calculated from the measurements of
and thickness of seed, respectively. the vertical depth and radius of spread of sample on
plywood (with grains in parallel and perpendicular with
Gravimetric Properties respect to the direction of the motion) and galvanised
iron.
Bulk and true densities for seed, kernel and hull at The static coefficient of friction () for seed and
different moisture levels were determined. The bulk kernel was measured against three structural materials,
density (b), defined as the ratio of the mass sample of namely plywood (with grains perpendicular to the
the grain to its total volume, was determined using a direction of the motion), acrylic and galvanised iron.
standard equipment of 250 mL of total volume with a A galvanised iron cylinder of 100-mm diameter and
piston for air displacement. The true density () defined 50-mm height was placed on an adjustable tilting plate,
as the ratio of mass of the sample to its true volume, was faced with the test surface, and filled with the sample.
determined using an electronic balance and a pycn- The cylinder was raised slightly so as not to touch
ometer (water displacement method). The seeds and the surface. The structural surface with the cylinder
kernels were coated with a very thin layer of epoxy resin resting on it was inclined gradually with a screw device
adhesive (Araldite) in order to avoid absorption of until the box just started to slide down and the angle
water during the experiment. The adhesive was found to of tilt was read from a graduated scale.
be insoluble in water, resistant to heat and humidity and Values reported for each property were the average
the increase in weight of the material due to the adhesive of triplicate measurements.
coating was negligible (less than 0.5%). The porosity
value (") defined as the fraction of space in the bulk
grain which is not occupied by the grain (Thompson
and Isaac, 1967) was calculated from the following RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
relationship:
Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Trisum 568
" ¼ ð1  b =Þ  100 ð5Þ High oleic (HO) sunflower seed studied, Trisum 568
resulted heavier than those of the traditional hybrid
Aerodynamic Properties selected for comparison, lower in oil content and with
higher hull/kernel ratio (Table 1). The ratio oleic/linoleic
Terminal velocity (Vt) of high oleic sunflower seeds
was the principal difference in the chemical oil
and kernels were measured using a vertical air tunnel.
composition.
The air velocities were varied through a computer
controller that enables to regulate the opening of the
air entrance into the blower (Kachru et al., 1994). Air Spatial Dimensions, Size Distribution,
velocity was measured with a calibrated orifice plate Sphericity and Surface Area
connected to an inclined micro-manometer (least count
of 0.5 mm of water, Dwyer Instruments Inc., USA) that Approximately 48% of the seed sample (5.6%, d.b
determines the differential pressure. The air velocity at moisture content) had a length between 11 and 12 mm,
which the grain remains in suspension is considered while a large fraction (31%) is over 12 mm and the small
the terminal velocity. The tests were carried out with one (21%) is less than 11 mm long. The mean values of
five replications for each moisture content of seed, the length, width, thickness and unit mass were found to
kernel and hull. Once the terminal velocity of grain in be 11.526, 5.008 and 2.809 mm and 0.055 g, respectively
air was determined, the following relationship (Mc Cabe (Table 2). The corresponding values for the kernel
et al., 1991) could be used for the calculation of drag were 8.802, 3.897 and 1.907 mm and 0.036 g, respec-
coefficient CD: tively. Some differences due to variety with respect to
other oil sunflowers have been detected. In particular
this high oleic resulted longer, thinner and heavier than
3a CD Vt2 ¼ 4gDe ð  a Þ ð6Þ one traditional variety (Gupta and Das, 1997).
438 E.M. SANTALLA AND R.H. MASCHERONI

Table 1. Some physical and chemical characteristics of sunflower seed according to previous works.
1000 Seed Oil Content Hull/Kernel Oleic/Linoleic
Sunflower Seeds Weight (g) (% d.b.) Ratio Ratio
Trisum 568 (HO) (Gely and Santalla, 2000) 50–52 43–45 0.53–0.55 8.2
Trisum 80 (Fernández San Juan, 1993) – – – 7.5
Others HO (Fernández San Juan, 1993) – – – 7.0–8.8
CF9 Argentinian genotype (Gely and Santalla, 2000) 42–48 49–51 0.32–0.34 0.25–0.29
Worldwide collection 27–71 41–56 0.20–0.43 0.60
(Fernández Martı́nez and Domı́nguez Giménez, 1985)
Traditional (Salunkhe et al., 1992) – 38–54 0.10–0.60 0.20–0.70

Table 2. Size distribution of seeds and kernels at 5.6 % moisture content (d.b.).
Size Category

Properties Ungraded Large Medium Small

Length of seed (mm) 10.12–13.04 >12 11–12 <11
Percent of Sample 100 31 48 21
(by number)
Seed
Length (mm) 11.585  0.632 12.282  0.243 11.526  0.272 10.672  0.281
Width (mm) 5.125  0.387 5.395  0.307 5.008  0.346 5.002  0.397
Thickness (mm) 2.797  0.312 2.978  0.305 2.809  0.247 2.676  0.290
Mass (g) 0.055  0.010 0.063  0.009 0.055  0.009 0.053  0.007
Kernel
Length (mm) 8.787  0.435 8.963  0.422 8.802  0.389 8.490  0.412
Width (mm) 3.914  0.448 4.059  0.265 3.897  0.332 3.826  0.556
Thickness (mm) 1.887  0.197 1.985  0.179 1.907  0.177 1.815  0.191
Mass (g) 0.036  0.006 0.039  0.006 0.035  0.006 0.034  0.005

Table 3. Correlation of seed and kernel dimensions to their length than to their thickness, but also the mass
at 5.6 moisture content (d.b.). of seed and kernel are correlated to their length. The
higher correlation coefficients for the relations L/l, W/w,
Degrees of Correlation
T/t and W/w also indicated that, in general, greater
Ratios Value Freedom Coefficient
seeds give greater kernels when dehulled and that kernel
L/W 2.26 98 0.453* size is directly proportional to seed size.
L/T 4.18 98 0.226**
L/M 209.44 98 0.427*
The highest correlation between linear dimensions
l/w 2.25 98 0.298* and moisture content was found for the mass (R2 ¼ 0.85)
l/t 4.66 98 0.194 followed by the thickness (R2 ¼ 0.42) and the width
l/m 247.10 98 0.392* (R2 ¼ 0.32) of the seed (Table 4). It can also be seen
L/l 1.32 98 0.482* that grains expand relatively more along their thickness
W/w 1.31 98 0.592*
T/t 1.48 98 0.672*
than along the main axes. Other correlations were not
M/m 1.55 98 0.857* significant.
W/M 92.68 98 0.798* The mean equivalent diameter for high oleic sun-
T/M 50.59 98 0.765* flower seed in the range of 4.22–26.44% moisture
w/m 110.05 98 0.565* content (d.b.) was 5.34 mm ( 0.07) and for kernel it
t/m 53.06 98 0.764*
was 3.88 mm ( 0.12) (Table 4). Sphericity of high oleic
*Significant at 1% level. **Significant at 5% level. sunflower varied between 0.449 and 0.479 for seed and
between 0.434 and 0.464 for kernel with the maximum
standard deviation for seed and kernel of 0.030 and
The coefficients of correlation obtained for the ratio 0.035, respectively.
between the main dimensions and mass (Table 3) Surface area increased with moisture content between
showed that length of seed is mostly related to width 101.85 and 105.14 mm2 (according to Equation (3)) and
(less in kernel) than to thickness but the mass is more 104.24 and 107.28 mm2 (according to Equation (4))
related with thickness and width than with length. for seed and between 55.22 and 58.26 mm2 (according to
Higher values for correlation coefficients showed that Equation (3)) and 56.92 and 59.77 mm2 (according to
width of seed and kernel were more strongly correlated Equation (4)) for kernel.
 Physical Properties of Sunflower Seeds 439

Table 4. Size, mass and morphology of high oleic sunflower seeds and kernels (Trisum 568) at different moisture
contents (n ¼ 100).
Moisture Mass Length Width Thickness Equivalent
(% d.b.) (kg) (mm) (mm) (mm) Diameter (mm) Sphericity
Seed 4.22 0.049 11.623 4.926 2.489 5.224 0.449
8.60 0.056 11.207 5.095 2.716 5.373 0.479
14.33 0.057 11.386 4.998 2.676 5.340 0.469
21.13 0.058 11.465 5.049 2.677 5.371 0.468
26.44 0.063 11.412 5.079 2.717 5.400 0.473
R2 0.85 0.01 0.32 0.42 0.59 0.444
Kernel 5.04 0.031 8.567 3.737 1.717 3.802 0.456
8.14 0.034 8.717 4.001 1.895 4.044 0.464
13.19 0.035 8.511 3.818 1.801 3.883 0.464
19.30 0.032 8.578 3.596 1.669 3.720 0.434
23.75 0.035 8.768 3.777 1.845 3.938 0.449
R2 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.00 0.01 0.11

One Thousand Seed Weight The variations with moisture content were repre-
sented by the following correlations:
In the range of 4.22–26.44% moisture (d.b.) the
thousand grains mass increased from 49 to 63 g in seed s ¼ 651.1 þ 2.14 Mc (R2 ¼ 0.871)
and from 31 to 37 g in kernel. A close linear relationship k ¼ 1012.4 þ 2.04 Mc (R2 ¼ 0.849)
was found between this property and the moisture
content in seed (1000 grain mass ¼ 47.3 þ 0.59 Mc R2 ¼ h ¼ 572.2 þ 7.90 Mc (R2 ¼ 0.989)
0.979) but no relationship was found for the kernel. These fittings showed that for the three components
of high oleic sunflower genotype, their densities are
Gravimetric Properties linearly related with the moisture content. Similar trends
were obtained for seeds of traditional oilseed type
Bulk Density sunflower (Gupta and Das, 1997), pumpkin (Joshi et al.,
1993) and safflower (Gupta and Prakash, 1992).
The bulk densities of seed, kernel and hull were deter-
It was also observed that the bulk density of hull
mined in the range of moisture content of 4–26% d.b.,
was much lower than that of seed and kernel but the
5–24% d.b. and 7–24% d.b., respectively. The bulk
true density of hull of high oleic hybrid was close to the
density of seeds (374–386 kg/m3) resulted lower than
seed value (636–760 kg/m3) for the moisture range
that of kernels (535–552 kg/m3) and higher than that
evaluated.
of hulls (220–260 kg/m3) at the same moisture level
and varied with moisture content as indicated by the
following expressions: Porosity

bs ¼ 387.4  0.53Mc (R2 ¼ 0.799) The porosities of seed, kernel and hull were found
2 to vary between 41.0 and 47.0%, 47.2 and 47.7% and
bk ¼ 533.7 þ 0.85Mc (R ¼ 0.899)
59.0 and 70.0%, respectively. This physical property
bh ¼ 275.34  2.36Mc (R2 ¼ 0.786) increased linearly with the increase of moisture content
according to the following expressions:
These results were in agreement with those obtained
for traditional sunflower. Besides, for the same level of "s ¼ 40.62 þ 0.25Mc (R2 ¼ 0.975)
moisture content, bulk density of high oleic sunflower
was lower than those for corn (Nelson, 1980) and "k ¼ 47.30 þ 0.022Mc (R2 ¼ 0.585)
safflower (Gupta and Prakash, 1992) and higher than "h ¼ 53.88 þ 0.74Mc (R2 ¼ 0.939)
for pumpkinseed (Joshi et al., 1993).
The highest variation with moisture content was
observed for hull. These results showed lower variation
True Density with moisture content than those of traditional sun-
flower (Gupta and Das, 1997). Similar trends were
The true densities of the seed, kernel and hull were reported for traditional sunflower (Gupta and Das,
determined in the same range of moisture content than 1997) and gram (Dutta et al., 1988) however this
bulk density and were found to vary between 652 tendency was opposed to the results reported for
and 708 kg/m3, 1015 and 1057 kg/m3 and 636 and safflower (Gupta and Prakash, 1992) and pumpkin
760 kg/m3 respectively. seed (Joshi et al., 1993).
440 E.M. SANTALLA AND R.H. MASCHERONI

Aerodynamic Properties coefficient decreased until values around 1 for Re,p

higher than 2000.
Terminal velocity increased linearly in seed, kernel
and hull with moisture as follows:
Frictional Properties
Vts ¼ 2.227 þ 0.1176Mc (R2 ¼ 0.976)
Vtk ¼ 1.254 þ 0.1024Mc (R2 ¼ 0.975) Angle of Repose
2
Vth ¼ 0.7681 þ 00454Mc (R ¼ 0.959) The angle of repose of high oleic sunflower seed,
As the moisture content increased from 4 to 26% kernel and hulls was evaluated over three different
terminal velocity of seed and kernel approximately surfaces: wood with grain parallel and perpendicular
doubled their values. Terminal velocity of high oleic to the direction of the motion and galvanised iron.
sunflower resulted lower than that of Turkish mahaleb The higher values were obtained on wood with grains
seeds (Aydin et al., 2002) and pumpkin seeds (Joshi perpendicular and the lower ones on galvanised iron.
et al., 1993). This may be due to the rough surface of wood
Drag coefficient decreased in exponential form with respect to metal and also to the shape of sunflower
with moisture content between 4.69 and 1.36 in seed seed that provokes resistance in the seeds from sliding
and between 12.46 and 3.11 in kernel (Figure 2(a)). with respect to each other. The angle of repose of
Morphology of hull was not determined due to its hull resulted higher than that for kernel and both these
irregular shape therefore no values of drag coefficient of were higher than that found for seed. The higher angle
hull were reported. Figure 2(b) represents a typical curve of kernel with respect to that of seed did not agree
of drag coefficient versus Reynolds number (defined as with the results reported by Gupta and Das (1997)
De Vt  a/a) for high oleic sunflower seed and kernel. for traditional sunflower, in which kernel had lower
As it is expected, as terminal velocity increases, drag angle of repose. In our work, the seeds presented lower
resistance for sliding than kernel. This might be due to
the lower roughness of its hull with respect to the
kernel that is covered by its oily tegument. Joshi et al.
(1993) had found a similar relation between seed and
kernel of pumpkinseeds at low values of moisture
content.
The experimental results showed a clear linear
increase of the angle of repose with moisture content.
The angle of repose varied from 23 to 46
for seed,
from 35 to 55
for kernel and from 49 to 66
for hull.
These values resulted in a higher level of variation
than those found for traditional sunflower (maximum
difference in similar range of moisture content).
The slopes of the linear regressions were similar for
the three cases. The following relationships represent
the variation of the angle of repose with moisture
content:
Wood with perpendicular grains:
s ¼ 24.95 þ 0.79Mc (R2 ¼ 0.994)
k ¼ 34.80 þ 0.87Mc (R2 ¼ 0.999)
h ¼ 50.80 þ 0.64Mc (R2 ¼ 0.999)
Wood with parallel grains:
s ¼ 21.56 þ 0.71Mc (R2 ¼ 0.996)
k ¼ 32.83 þ 0.78Mc (R2 ¼ 0.998)
h ¼ 47.05 þ 0.70Mc (R2 ¼ 0.993)
Galvanised iron:
Figure 2. Variation of drag coefficient for high oleic
s ¼ 20.69 þ 0.56Mc (R2 ¼ 0.990)
seed and kernel: (a) With moisture content; (b)
with the Reynolds number Re,p (defined as Re,p ¼ k ¼ 31.51 þ 0.75Mc (R2 ¼ 0.994)
DeVta/a). h ¼ 41.90 þ 0.96Mc (R2 ¼ 0.996)
 Physical Properties of Sunflower Seeds 441

Static Coefficient of Friction T ¼ thickness of seed (mm)

T0 ¼ half of thickness (mm)
The experimental values of static coefficient of fric- t ¼ thickness of kernel (mm)
tion of high oleic sunflower seeds and its fractions varied Vt ¼ terminal velocity (m/s)
between 0.23 and 0.47 (maximum standard deviation W ¼ width of seed (mm)
0.012), between 0.37 and 0.69 (maximum standard W0 ¼ half of width (mm)
deviation 0.016) and between 0.31 and 0.60 (maximum w ¼ width of kernel (mm)
standard deviation 0.020) for seed, kernel and hull, " ¼ porosity, dimensionless
respectively. The higher values were found for the kernel
¼ sphericity, dimensionless
and the difference between seed and hull was lower as  ¼ coefficient of friction, dimensionless
compared to seed and kernel. This may be due to the a ¼ air viscosity (kg/ms)
oily surface of the kernel that makes their sliding more  ¼ angle of repose (
)
difficult than that of whole seeds or hulls.  ¼ true density (kg/m3)
The experimental results showed the effect of the a ¼ air density (kg/m3)
structural surfaces and the moisture content on the b ¼ bulk density (kg/m3)
static coefficient of friction. The higher values were
found on plywood with the grains perpendicular to the
Subscripts
direction of motion followed by acrylic surface and
the lower values on galvanised iron. For all evalua- h ¼ hull
ted structural surfaces the coefficient of static friction k ¼ kernel
increased with moisture content according to the follow- s ¼ seed
ing relationships:

swood ¼ 0.34 þ 0.0067Mc (R2 ¼ 0.946)

kwood ¼ 0.55 þ 0.0057Mc (R2 ¼ 0.985)
REFERENCES
hwood ¼ 0.49 þ 0.0045Mc (R2 ¼ 0.968) ASAE Standards (1999). Standard Engineering Practices
sacryl ¼ 0.25 þ 0.0092Mc (R2 ¼ 0.957) Data. 46th edn, St. Joseph MI: American Society of
Agricultural Engineers.
kacryl ¼ 0.48 þ 0.0057Mc (R2 ¼ 0.940)
Aydin C., Ogut H. and Konak M. (2002). Some physical
hacryl ¼ 0.34 þ 0.0059Mc (R2 ¼ 0.950) properties of Turkish Mahaleb. Biosystem Engineering
sgalv ¼ 0.19 þ 0.0109Mc (R2 ¼ 0.964) 82(2): 231–234.
kgalv ¼ 0.35 þ 0.0069Mc (R2 ¼ 0.956) Dutta S.K., Nema V.K. and Bhardwaj R.K. (1988).
Physical properties of gram. Journal of Agricultural
hgalv ¼ 0.23 þ 0.0090Mc (R2 ¼ 0.942) Engineering Research 39(4): 259–268.
It appears that the static coefficient of friction for high Fernández Martı́nez J. and Domı́nguez Giménez J. (1985).
oleic sunflower on galvanised iron surface is similar Evaluación de la variabilidad en caracteres de la semilla
to that for traditional sunflower but results higher de una colección mundial de girasol [Evaluation of the
than those of gram (Dutta et al., 1988), pigeon pea variability of seed characteristics from a worldwide
sunflower collection]. In: Proceedings XI International
(Sheperd and Bhardwaj, 1986) and oilbean seed (Oje and
Sunflower Conference, Vol. 2, pp. 535–540, La Plata,
Ugbor, 1991), except for pumpkin seed (Joshi et al., 1993) Argentina.
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