title: Development of a locust bean processing device.
abstract: A locust bean steaming, dehulling and separating machine was designed in this study by simulating the traditional processing operations. The machine consist of pressure cooking pot (as the cooking device) mounted on a separate stand and equipped with rocker- arm system to facilitate discharge of contents, a hopper made of mild steel sheet, the dehulling unit made of screwed shaft and abrasive barrel, a conical-shaped separating section equipped with paddles (made of aluminum material) and a standing frame to support the whole arrangement. The machine was evaluated by processing seed at cooking times of 30, 45, 60 and 90 min. The result indicated increase in dehulling efficiency with increase in cooking time from 30 to 60 min while it dropped at 90 min. The highest dehulling efficiency of 82% was obtained at cooking time of 60 min. The separation efficiency obtained at this optimal cooking time was 79%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oseni Kehinde
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Owolarafe
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Dare Aderibigbe
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Adetan
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Gbenga Adebayo
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Olatunde
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adebowale Oladeji
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ile Kehinde
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Okoh
keywords: Drudgery; Efficiency; Locust beans; Machine; Nutritive value; Processing