Storage of cottonseed and peanuts under conditions which minimize spectrophotometric changes in the extracted oil

Abstract

Summary Cottonseed was stored for over a year without appreciable change in red gossypol content by adjusting the moisture content to 8% or less and placing in closed containers at 1° or at −18°C. Cottonseed stored at room temperature, 27°C., showed a large increase in red gossypol content. Cottonseed stored in the above manner at 1° or at −18°C. showed little or no increase in the non‐gossypol absorption of the extracted oil at 236 mμ, the region of diene conjugation. This property of the extracted oil showed a large increase when cottonseed was stored at room temperature, 27°C. Gossypol dissolved in cyclohexane has spectrophotometric extinction coefficients (concentration in g. per liter, solution depth 1 cm.) of 207, 70, and 40 at the maxima at 236 mμ, 286 mμ, and 358 mμ, respectively. The extracted oil from peanuts stored for over four years at room temperature, 27°C., showed a much greater absorption in the region of 227 mμ to 234 mμ than did peanuts stored for the same time at 1° or at −18°C.