Assessment of Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Ecballium Elaterium (L.) Seeds Grown in Natural Environment

: In this study, Several essential physical and mechanical properties of the seeds of the Ecballium elaterium (L.) plant, which grows naturally in Balıkesir province of Turkey and has some medicinal properties, were determined for product processing and similar processes. All properties were evaluated at different moisture states ranging from 11.48% to 22%, and the changes of these properties according to moisture were observed. At an initial moisture content of 11.48%, Ecballium seeds had a length of 4.72 mm, a width of 2.85 mm, a thickness of 2.09 mm, an arithmetic mean diameter of 3.22 mm, a geometric mean diameter of 3.04 mm, a sphericity of 64.45%, and a thousand grain weight of 13.61 g. As a result of measurements conducted on Ecballium seed re-wetted to moisture levels between 11.48% and 22%, it was observed that its bulk density decreased from 501.00 kg m - ³ to 468.5 kg m - ³ its true density decreased from 965.67 kg m - ³ to 870 kg m - ³ its projected area increased from 10.60 mm² to 11.51 mm², its rupture strength decreased from 5.08 N/mm - ² to 2.98 N/mm - ², and its terminal velocity increased from 2.69 m s -1 to 3.06 m s -1 .

To date, there have been scarce studies conducted on the physical and mechanical properties of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds.Due to the increasing importance of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds, there is a need to develop machines to be used in processes such as harvesting and processing the seeds.Therefore, the physical properties of Ecballium seeds must be well known to avoid the seed from being damaged and to obtain appropriate treatments.The objective of this investigation is to investigate several physical properties of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds grown in the natural environment of Balıkesir province in Turkey, focusing on their variation with humidity levels.

MATERIALS AND METHOD
The research utilized seeds of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich, gathered from Balıkesir, Turkey, in 2023.Fruit specimens were gathered from Balıkesir, Turkey, in 2023, following which seeds were extracted from the fruits and prepared for experimentation.Total seeds weights are 1000 grams.They were maintained in chilled containers for delivery to the laboratory.The leftover the material was packaged into a 2000 ml glass vessel and kept chilled till it was ready for use.To get rid of any external objects, like branches, dust, leaves, and premature or damaged fruits, the seeds were purified.After taking a sufficient amount of sample from the product to determine its moisture, the left material was placed in hermetic glass containers and stored in chilled storage until utilization.A hundred seeds were randomly selected for each measurement.Before initiating the test, the needed amount of seeds was left to reach room temperature The seeds' initial moisture level was identified using a standardized procedure (USDA, 1970), revealing a moisture level of 11.48% (d.b.).The quantified volume of distilled water was introduced to the seeds, completely blended, and then enclosed in polyethylene bags To achieve the targeted moisture contents.The samples were refrigerated at 278K for 7 days to ensure a uniform moisture level (Deshpande et al. 1993;Çarman 1996;Konak et al. 2002).All physical characteristics of the seeds were assessed across moisture contents of 11.48%, 14%, 16%, 18%, and 20%, as well as 22% d.b., with three replicates conducted at each level.To ascertain the dimensions of the seeds, Ten sets of samples, each comprising 100 seeds have been chosen randomly.From each set, thirty seeds were chosen, and an electronic micrometer was used to measure each seed's length, width, and thickness with an accuracy of 0.01 mm.The following formula was used to calculate the seeds' geometric mean diameter (Dp) and arithmetic mean diameter (Da), as per Mohsenin's (1986) description:  = () 1/3  (1) where W stands for width, T for thickness, and L for length.The degree of sphericity (ϕ) has the following expression, according to Mohsenin (1986): Image processing techniques were used to quantify the projected area of a seed.A digital camera, a computer with 2.4 GHz processor and FIJI software were used for this measurement.Seeds were placed on white background.A calibration plate was placed near seeds and pictures of seeds were taken from 30 cm height with a leveled 16 MP camera.Then, images were processed and projected areas were determined.
A hectolitre weight tester calibrated in kilograms per hectolitre was employed to gauge the bulk density, as outlined by Deshpande et al. (1993).The masses of the seed weights were ascertained using an electronic balance with an accuracy of 0.001 grams.Toluene (C7H8) was preferred over water due to its lower absorbability by seeds, as noted in the studies by Sitkei (1976), Mohsenin (1970), and Haciseferogullari et al. (2005).The porosity of the bulk was designated using the relationship described by Mohsenin (1970) and Thompson and Isaacs (1967).

𝜀 = (
where b is the bulk density and t is the true density. The seeds' terminal velocities were calculated utilizing an air column.An electronic anemometer with a precision of 0.1 m s -1 was used to measure the air velocity close to the site of the suspended seed after a seed was discharged into the airflow from the top end of the air column (Joshi et al. 1993).The system for measuring terminal velocity was specified in Figure 1.The device for testing biological materials devised by Aydin and Öğüt (1992) was utilized to ascertain the rupture strength of the Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds, as illustrated in Figure 2. The device comprises of a stable upper platform and a movable bottom platform, a data acquisition system (comprising a dynamometer, amplifier, and XY recorder) and a driving unit (which includes an AC electric motor and electronic variator).The seeds were positioned on the movable bottom platform and compressed against a stable probe (with a diameter of 2.2 mm).With a minimum resolution of 0.01 N, a force dynamometer and a data collecting system were utilized to ascertain the rupture strength of the seed.The trial was carried out at a loading velocity of 50 millimeters per minute.

Bulk and true density
The bulk density values of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds at various moisture levels ranged from 501.00 to 468.5 kg/m³ (Figure 3).The true density of Ecballium across different moisture levels varied between 965.67 and 870 kg/m³.Ecballium's density was found to be affected by moisture level, and when moisture level got higher, bulk and real density both decreased.The moisture level and density were shown to be negatively correlated.This is due to the lower volumetric expansion in which the fruit is under moisture and under increasing mass.Baryeh (2001) reported a similar tendency for bambara groundnut, and Pradhan et al. ( 2009) likewise identified a negative linear association between bulk and actual density and moisture content for jatropha fruit.

Porosity
The porosity of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds exhibited variations ranging from 44.64% to 48.72% across different moisture levels (Figure 4).İt was observed that the porosity of Ecballium did not exhibit a consistent trend with increasing moisture level.Despite a slight decrease associated with an increase in moisture level, it has been concluded that the porosity of Ecballium does not exhibit a consistent alteration with rising moisture levels.

Projected area
The projected area of Ecballium elaterium (L.) exhibited variations ranging from 10.60 to 11.51 mm 2 across different moisture levels (Figure 5).Moisture content elevation has led to an augmentation in the projected area.As the moisture content increases from 11.48% to 22%, the projected area experienced a 9% increase.Similar patterns were documented for numerous other seeds (Ayman et al., 2010;Unal et al., 2008;Aghkhani et al., 2012).

Rupture strength
The rupture strength values of Ecballium elaterium (L.) are depicted in Figure 6.The rupture strength of Ecballium was found 5.08 to 2.98 N mm -2 .The rupture strength increases in low moisture contents.Ecballium's rupture strengths show a linear correlation with moisture content.Higher moisture content likely led to lower rupture forces, as the seeds tended to become very soft under such conditions.Nyorere and Uguru ( 2018

Terminal velocity
The terminal velocity of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds varies across different moisture levels, ranging from 2.69 to 3.06 m/s (Figure 6).It was found that the terminal velocity increased linearly with the moisture content.With a 92% increase in moisture content, an average 14% increase in terminal velocity was seen.Several researchers (Kural and Çarman, 1997;Aydin, 2003)

CONCLUSIONS
Based on the findings of this study, several physical properties of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seed, commonly grown in Türkiye, were determined due to their importance in agricultural machinery.At a moisture content of 11.48% (d.b.), the length, width, thickness, arithmetic mean diameter, and geometric mean diameter of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds were determined to be 4.72 mm, 2.85 mm, 2.09 mm, 3.22 mm, and 3.04 mm, respectively.The correlation coefficients indicate that the Length/AMD rations of the seeds at 11.48 % (d.b.) moisture content were found highly significant.Projected area and terminal velocity value of Ecballium increased with increased moisture content.Rupture strength of Ecballium elaterium (L.) decreased with increasing moisture level.As the degree of moisture increased, the bulk and true densities of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds reduced.The findings of this research could be useful in designing of machinery that can be used in threshing, storage, pneumatic conveying, and other transportation activities, as well as in their optimization.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Biological material testing system

Figure 4 .
Figure 4.The fluctuation of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seed's porosity in response to changes in moisture content

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Differences in the projected area of Ecballium seeds according to its level of moisture.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.The rupture strength of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds varies with changes in moisture content

Table 2 )
Haciseferogullari et al. (2005)tios of the seeds at 11.48% (d.b.) moisture content were determined to be quite significant, while the Length/Width, Length/Thickness, Length/GMD and Length/Sphericity ratios were not determined to be significant.Similar outcomes were observed byDemir et al. (2002)for hackberry andHaciseferogullari et al. (2005).This shows that length and arithmetic mean diameter are closely linked.

Changes in the terminal velocity of Ecballium elaterium (L.) seeds with varying moisture level
reported similar findings.

Assessment of Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Ecballium Elaterium (L.) Seeds Grown in Natural Environment
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