PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF RED KIDNEY BEANS (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Bangga, Peterson1

Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Science

and Technology of Southern Philippines, Philippines

INTRODUCTION

Red kidney beans or Phaseolus vulgaris is a common bean that

is very important food crop used in many dishes such as Chili con

Carne and many more. Red kidney bean is also packed with major

source of protein. It is a food crop high in dietary fiber and

antioxidant levels. It is eaten cooked and not raw as it is proven

that uncooked red kidney beans are toxic.

The physical properties of red kidney bean is very important

as it helps food engineers to design and model equipment for

handling, processing and storing. The data collected in this study

is also used for the assessing of product quality.

METHODOLOGY

A. MATERIALS

Red kidney beans or Phaseolus vulgaris is used in this

assessment activity and is purchased from Savemore

supermarket in Limketkai mall. The seeds undergone

 several process before experimenting. Such as sorting,

washing, drying and grinding.

B. METHODS

Mass of seed

The average mass of seeds.

Dimension of seed

The average grain dimension was measured by using

five seeds. Length, width, thickness were measured

using a Vernier caliper and Micrometer for all red

kidney bean.

Seed displacement

The volume of the seeds were measured using this

method. Volume was obtained by using a graduated

cylinder with fifty millilitres of water then the

seed was dropped. The initial and final volume was

then subtracted and the result is the volume of the

seed.

Initial volume (50ml) – Final volume

= Volume of Seed

Density
 The density of the seeds were calculated using

volume of seed and mass of seed.

Mass of seed
= Density of seed
Volume of seed

Moisture content

Moisture was measured using a moisture analyser and

moisture content percent was calculated using the

results.

Initial reading − Final reading

∗ 100% = Percent Moisture Content
Initial reading

Diameter

Arithmetic mean diameter (AMD), Geometric mean

diameter (GMD), Square mean diameter (SMD) and

Equivalent diameter (EQD) were calculated using the

following equations.

L+W+T
= 𝐴𝑀𝐷
3
1
(𝐿𝑊𝑇)3 = 𝐺𝑀𝐷
1
(𝐿𝑊 + 𝑊𝑇 + 𝑇𝐿)2 = 𝑆𝑀𝐷

AMD + GMD + SMD

= 𝐸𝑄𝐷
3

Sphericity
 The sphericity is calculated using;

Mean Diameter
∗ 100%
Length

Specific gravity

Specific gravity of seed was determined by

calculating the ratio of the solid density and of

water.

Solid density of seed

= Specific gravity
Desity of water

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The physical properties of red kidney bean or Phaseolus

vulgaris that was measured is moisture content, width, thickness,

Arithmetic mean diameter (AMD), Geometric mean diameter (GMD),

Square mean diameter (SMD) and Equivalent diameter (EQD), seed

displacement, density, mass and sphericity.

Physical properties of red kidney beans

Variety → RED RED RED RED RED RED
Parameters ↓ KIDNEY KIDNEY KIDNEY KIDNEY KIDNEY KIDNEY
BEAN BEAN BEAN BEAN BEAN BEAN
1 2 3 4 5 AVERAGE
Moisture ± 12%
Content (%)
Dimensions
L (length) 1.911 1.924 1.916 1.940 1.915 ± 0.8902
W (width) 0.940 0.933 0.833 0.900 0.845 ± 1.9212
T (thickness) 0.640 0.644 0.633 0.645 0.602 ± 0.6328
AMD (mm) 0.387 0.389 0.375 0.387 0.374 ± 1.1480
GMD (mm) 1.047 1.050 1.003 1.040 0.991 ± 1.0266
SMD (mm) 1.903 1.907 1.827 1.892 1.811 ± 1.9956
EQD (mm) 1.112 1.115 1.068 1.106 1.058 ± 1.3901
Seed ± 3.0000
displacement
(ml)
Density (g/ml) ± 1.8601
Mass of seed 0.6906 0.6921 0.7480 0.8725 0.7169 ± 0.7440
(g)
Sphericity ± 0.5344

Moisture content:
The moisture content of the red kidney bean has a value of
3.5% and this shows that red kidney has a small amount of moisture
in it.

Dimensions:
All dimensions from the seeds were very close to each other.
For length K.B. #4 is the tallest among the seeds and K.B. #4 also
is the thickest among the seeds. The average in length for the
seeds is 0.8902 mm, width with 1.9212 mm and lastly for thickness
is 0.6382 mm.
Diameter:
The arithmetic mean diameter with the highest value is R.B.
#2 with 0.389 mm and lowest is R.B. #5. For geometric mean diameter
of red kidney bean ranged 1.0500 mm to 1.003 mm. The square mean
diameter calculated resulted with a highest value of 1.907 mm from
R.B. #2.

Seed displacement:
All of the five seeds used were submerged in a 100 ml
graduated cylinder with 50 ml distilled water in it. An increase
of 53 ml from the initial 50 ml. Thus resulting to a 3 ml volume
of the seed.

Density:
The density of the seeds is 1.8601 g/ml. It is important in
food products because it influences the strength and other
properties of the packaging.

Mass of seed:
The average mass of the five red kidney beans used in the
study ranges from 0.8725 g to 0.6906 g with an average of 0.7440
g.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 As red kidney beans are abundant, cheap and accessible to the
public it is no doubt that it has been part of researches about
its utilization. Food processing of this bean needs its basic
physical properties in order to properly understand the qualities
of the beans.
I recommend that further study about its chemical properties
as the physical properties has been done in this study. Chemical
properties can identify its nutritional value and composition.

REFERENCES
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Baryeh, E.A, et al. (2002). Some physical properties of Q.P.-38
variety pegeonpea. J. Food Engg., 56 (1): 59-65.
Singh, Y., et al. (2014). Evaluation of physical properties of
kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Alonge, A. (2014). Physical Properties of African Kidney Bean
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and Their Processing Impact
Ravi, R., et al. (2008). PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CRANBERRY AND RED
KIDNEY BEANS