Volume 84, 1956-57
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Research Note
A Note on the Oil Extracted from Titoki Berries (Alectyron excelsum)
[Received by Editor, September 10, 1956.]
In September, 1954, a small quantity of Titoki berries was obtained through the courtesy of Dr. R. Cooper, of the Auckland Museum. On extraction with petroleum ether, they yielded about 30 per cent. of a bright yellow oil with the following characteristics:—
| Per cent. | |
|---|---|
| Free fatty acids (as oleic) | 2.4 |
| Iodine value | 71.5 |
| Saponification value | 221.0 |
| Refractive index at 20° | 1.4697 |
| Refractive index at 25° | 1.4678 |
This oil is quite unusual in developing a green colour when treated with alcoholic potash: unfortunately we did not have enough of it to investigate this matter further.
The following figures on the characteristics of other oils of Sapindaceae species are quoted from Eckey (1954):—
| Iodine Value | Saponification Value | Refractive Index (25°) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapindus trifoliatus (Soap tree) | 58 | 194 | 1.4764 |
| Sapindus Drummondii (Western soapberry) | 82–89 | 192–219 | 1.4686–1.4722 |
| Sapindus Mukorossi | 62.5 | 221 | |
| Sapindus marginatus | 90.4 | 194.4 | 1.4709 |
| Blighia laurentii | 73.5 | 181.7 | |
| Dodonea viscosa | 110.9 | ||
| Koelreuteria paniculata | 90 | 190 | |
| Nephelium lappaceum (Rambutan) | 39–44 | 193–195 | 1.458 (40°) |
| Nephelium mutabile (Pulasan) | 35–42 | 194–199 | 1.458 (40°) |
| Schleichera trijuga (Kusum) | 48–58 | 220–230 | 1.461 (40°) |
| Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye) | 77–84 | 192–203 | |
| Xanthoceras sorbifolia | 111 | 183 | 1.471 (12°) |
Reference
Eckey, E. W., 1954. Vegetable Fats and Oils. New York: Reinhold.
S. G. Brooker,
M.Sc.,Abels Limited,
Box 9012,
Auckland, S.E.1.