Performance Evaluation of Greases Produced from Wild Melon and Calabash Seeds

In this study titled ‘Performance Evaluation of Greases Produced from Wild Melon and Calabash Seeds’ oil seeds from wild melon and calabash were investigated as base oils for the production of greases. The oil seeds were oven dried to moisture contents of 12.5 % and11.1 % for calabash seeds and wild melon seeds respectively. The oils were extracted using solvent method. The percentage oil yields were 56.3 and 55.2 % for wild melon and calabash seeds respectively. Chemo-physical properties like flash point, free-fatty acid, viscosity index, and pour point of the oils proved that they are all suitable for the production of greases. The aim of this work was to produce greases from renewable raw materials that are environmental friendly and to improve upstream agricultural activities and provision of employment. The greases were prepared using Nailen and Yeong method. The greases produced were evaluated. Analysis of the produced greases showed that there was a gradual drop in viscosity with increase in temperature. It is recommended that greases produced using natural oil seeds like wild melon and calabash seeds be used as alternative to petroleum base grease. This is because the base oils are from renewable source, are less volatile and have high free fatty acid content.