PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF TOMATO SEED OIL (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a plant widely grown around the world. The industrial process of tomato sauce produces a large quantity of seeds that are usually considered as waste by the food industry. In this paper the physico-chemical parameters of tomato seed oil are studied in relation to its possible use as a biodiesel and as a renewable source of energy. The acid number ranged between 0.48 and 2.50 mg KOH/kg of oil. The oxidative stability index (Rancimat test) was within the legal limit of EN 14214:2014. Eleven fatty acid methyl esters were detected. The largest percentage was for C18:2 acid (49.61-57.89%) followed by C18:1 (18.79-21.82%).