Physicochemical Characteristics and Fatty Acid Composition of Tomato Seed Oils from Processing Wastes

The major component of tomato processing industry wastes is seed. Samples of tomato (Petomech var.) pomace from industries of São Paulo state submitted to Hot and Cold Break treatments, were spontaneously fermented and washed to separate seeds. The oils were analysed for specific gravity, iodine and saponifícation numbers, refractive index, viscosity and fatty acid composition. Except for saponifícation number, Hot and Cold Break seed oils were very similar. In both treatments palmitic acid was the major saturated fatty acid, followed by stearic acid. Linoleic acid was the major unsaturated fatty acid followed by oleic acid. Both oleic and linoleic acids added up to over 60% of total fatty acids, being higher in Cold Break seed oils. Both treatments produced high nutritional oil quality. Differences in colour and viscosity may incur in more intense refining operations for Brazilian tomato processing industries due to the adoption of the Hot Break treatment.