Capacitance Sensor for Nondestructive Determination of Total Oil Content in Peanut Kernels

In this work, attempts were made to estimate the total oil content (TOC) in single peanut kernels, using the CI meter (Chari’s Impedance meter, described below). Mature peanut kernels of selected varieties with a range of oil contents from 47% to 61% were placed one at a time, between the parallel-plate electrodes of the CI meter, and the impedance (Z) and phase angle (q) of the system were measured, and capacitance, C was computed at 1, 5 and 9 MHz. After the measurements, the TOC of each kernel was determined by Soxhlet method. Using the known TOC values, and the corresponding C, Z and q values, initially on a calibration group of kernels, calibration equations were developed. Using the model coefficients from the calibration, the TOCs of kernel samples of 31 diverse peanut genotypes grown in different environments in Australia were determined. The method predicted the TOC values of peanut kernels of 31 peanut genotypes, within 2% of the Soxhlet values, with an R2 of 0.87 (P 0.001).