Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties of Iranian Tomato Seed Oil

Abstract

The major components of tomato processing industry wastes are seed that is not edible. The physicochemical properties and chemical composition of oil from tomato seed were studied by established methods. The oil yield of tomato seeds is about 35% on a dry weight basis. This vegetable oil has low sulphur (0.04 wt%), low ash content (0.034%), and high viscosity (51.5 mPa.s at 50°C). The fatty acid profile of tomato seed oil shows that there is a predominance of compounds containing an even number of carbon atoms, especially C 16 and C 18. The total saturated and unsaturated fatty acid composition is 18.28% and 81.72%, respectively, and the most abundant fatty acid is linoleic acid (56.12%). This study indicates that tomato seed wastes are a potential source of edible oil.