TITLE

• EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM

AMARULA NUTS.
INTRODUCTION
• The botanical name of Marula is Sclerocarya birrea, and is a single-stemmed tree with a
wide-spreading, round crown and characteristic grey, mottled bark, peeling in disc-shaped
flakes.

• It is a tall, deciduous tree (15-20m high) and the compound leaves are grey-green in color,
but turn pale yellow prior to being shed.

• Denuded of leaves, the top branches appear abnormally thick and erect, like upturned
fingers (digitaliform).

• The tree remains bare for several months of the year.

• It is best known for its golf ball-sized fruit, which it bears in profusion during summer.

• They are round to oval, green when young, and becoming butter-yellow as they ripen.

• The thick, soft, leathery exocarp encloses a white, slimy fruit pulp and a large, hard, woody
stone. The seeds contained therein are white and nut-like.

• The marula tree is a drought resistant tree and the seeds are consumed as nuts by humans
and rodents.

• The Marula tree, Sclerocarya birrea (also, S.birrea), family Anacardiaceae, subspecies
caffra, is native to the semi-arid Buhera , Gutu, Bikita, Chivi and Mwenezi districts of
Zimbabwe
• Nearly all the parts of the Marula tree the bark, leaves, roots, fruit, kernels and the
nuts have also been utilized in some form in traditional cultures in Mozambique,
Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana (Vermaak et al. 2011; WIPO, 2010).

• The chemical composition and antimicrobial effects of the oil from the Marula nuts
were summarized and indicates that, of all the Marula tree components, the highest
antioxidant activity is found in the Marula nuts (Mariod et al. 2008) and the researcher
is going to focus on the nut

• Essential oils are concentrated liquids derived from the aromatic parts of plants such
as the flowers, roots, leaves barks and fruits using a special processes like steam
distillation. Solvents extraction, CO2 Extraction, Maceration, Cold Press Extraction
• Marula oil can also be added to shampoo or use it as a pre-shampoo
treatment , or in hair conditioner, lotion ,face cream and even in food staffs
as a preservative
 In addition ,this oil can used to prevent and treat stretch marks on pregnant women and
can also be used to make a wrinkle cream, natural soap or cosmetics.

 It is discovered that the oil content varies in the region with the drier places having a
higher oil content.

 The project aims to introduce a locally available natural source of essential oils which
is the Amarula nuts.
PROBLEM STATEMENT

 The essential oils used in Zimbabwe are imported from other countries as most
of the potential producers believe in the extraction of oils from flowers which
are grown by horticulture farmers which is very expensive for them.
JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

 The study will help those who are in detergent and cosmetic making in Zimbabwe as
they will be able to get essential oils locally.

 This project will also help individuals who might also want to extract their own oils
for personal use.
OBJECTIVES

 To extract and quantify essential oil found in Amarula nuts.

 To reduce the costs of importing essential oil

 To identify alternative sources of essential oils.

HYPOTHESIS

• The researcher is assuming that, there is good quality essential oil

in Amarula nuts.
METHODOLOGY

 The Amarula nuts used in this study was collected in Buhera district in
April.
 The nuts were laid out in the sun to dry.
 Once dried each shell was crushed using a heavy stone and then the kernels
were pried out using fine metal pick
 The first half was baked and the other was left unbaked
 They were then packed and sent to a mill to be pressed.
 The oil produced were filtered to separate residue from the liquid oils
• In general, seed and kernel oils are typically extracted by either cold-
pressing or solvent extraction, or a combination of the two processes.

• For organic processing of oils, cold pressing is the common acceptable

processing technique as it does not produce effluents, compromise the
intrinsic nature of the oil, or utilize toxic solvents.

• However, due to the low yield, there is a need for a more effective oil
extraction method.

• Solvent extraction typically involves using a solvent such as hexane to

extract the oil from a given seed matrix, with very good efficiency.
• Solvent extraction is not a favorable technique due to the toxicity of the solvents
typically used.

• The combination of the two processes, results in improved yield, such that the
majority of the oil is pressed out of the raw material, and subsequent solvent
extraction is used to recover the remaining oil.
DATA ANALYSIS

 Gas chromatography (GC), Mass Spectrometer will be

used to analyze the constituents of the oils.

 This method can separate the components of the oil

according to the difference in molecular volumes
ETHICS

 Efforts will be made to observe whether the product has

been produced by other players in the manufacturing
industry in Zimbabwe, whether the product is already
patented and branded.

 An environmental impact assessment will be conducted

through the interview of environmental specialist as to
whether the extraction is going to have a significant impact
on the environment and the society at large.
 GANT CHART

TASKS Ja Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
n
Planning

Collection of
Data

Processing Data

Implementation

Final reporting
and presentation
FUNDING
• SELF FUNDING

ACTIVITIES OTHER FUNDING SOURCES TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET

RTGS $

Travel expenses Nil 50.00

Equipment costs Nil 200.00

Other expenses
 Photocopying Nil 30.00
 Picture Nil 20.00

TOTAL BUDGET 300.00

REFERENCE

(1) Arnold, T., Wells, M. and Wehmeyer, A. (23-27 July, 1984)

Khoisan food plants: taxa with potential for future economic
exploitation In Plants for arid lands. International
Conference on Economic Plants for Arid Lands, Royal
Botanical Gardens,

(1) Kew.Bernelli, M. (2004) Il frutto degli altopiani.

Erboristeria domani, Sept.: 68-76. Botelle, A. (2001). A
History of Marula Use in Windhoek, Namibia Burger, A. E.
C., de Villiers, J. B. M. and du Plessis, L. M. (1987)
Composition of the kernel oil and protein of the marula
seed. South African Journal of Science, 83 (November/
December): 733-735.

(1) Eromosele, C. O. and Paschal, N. H. (2003) Short

Communication: Characterization and viscosity parameters
of seed oils from wild plants.