EXTRACTION and BIODEGRADATION OF BAOBAB (Adansonia digitata) SEEDS OIL BY FUNGI (Aspergillus niger)

Baobab (Adansonia digitata) seed oil was extracted using the soxhlet extractor in n-hexane at 60oC and some of its physical parameters determined. The oil was biodegraded using a Fungi (Aspergillus niger) between 25-30oC for 49 days. The pH and viscosity of the oil were measured as incubation period progressed. The result revealed a gradual decrease in pH but an increase in viscosity of the oil as the incubation time increases. It was opined that the decrease in pH could be due to the secretion of enzymes, and the subsequent breaking down of the substrates into smaller acidic molecules whereas, the increase in Viscosity could have been due to the assimilation of these molecules by the microorganisms which may have led to their growth and or increase in the population and the formation of long chain metabolites. The Fourier Transform Infrared determined showed shifts in the absorption bands of the functional groups such as carbonyl, hydroxyl, carboxylic and amide of the biodegraded oil. The GC - MS analysis showed the esterification of unsaturated carboxylic acid to 9-octadecanoic acid and the formation of 2-hydroxy-1, 3-propanediyl ester by the Aspergillus niger. Therefore, it was concluded that biodegradation of Adansonia digitata has taken place in 35 days. Keywords: Biodegradation, Seed oil, Aspergillus niger, Viscosity, Baobab (Adansonia digitata