ABSTRACT
The effect of Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ginger, Honey and Pepper Fruit on the stability of zobo drink was studied. The zobo drink was extracted from 100g of zobo leaves using Soxhlet extraction with dilute aqueous Ethanol solution as the solvent. 50ml of the extracted zobo drink was treated with varied amount of the preservatives each. 1.25ml, 2.50ml and 5.00ml for Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate and Honey and 0.25g, 0.50g and 1.00g for Ginger and Pepper Fruit. The Electrical Conductivity (E.C), Refractive Index (R.I) and Brix value of each of the samples were taken at two (2) days intervals for twelve (12) days. The Standard Deviation and the Mean of the result gotten were calculated for. The samples that were treated with Ginger when compared to other preservative and the control sample (the untreated sample) all gave the lowest mean value in the Brix test (3.8, 3.9 and 3.6 for 0.25g, 0.50g and 1.00g respectively) making it the best preservative suitable for an optimal Brix value. The Brix mean values of the other preservatives were: Potassium Sorbate (4.9, 5.2, 4.8 for 1.25ml, 2.50ml and 5.00ml respectively); Sodium Benzoate (4.8, 4.9 and 4.6 for 1.25ml, 2.50ml and 5.00ml respectively); Honey (6.6, 7.7 and 11.2 for 1.25ml, 2.50ml and 5.00ml respectively) and Pepper fruit (3.9, 4.0 and 4.1 for 0.25g, 0.50g and 1.00g respectively) And the control sample had 4.8. On the Electrical conductivity values, Potassium Sorbate gave the lowest Standard Deviation value (483, 300, 43 for 1.25ml, 2.50ml and 5.00ml respectively) when compared to other preservatives and the control sample making it the best preservative suitable for an optimal E.C value. The Electrical conductivity standard deviation values of the other preservatives were: Ginger (834, 851 and 928 for 0.25g, 0.50g and 1.00g); Sodium Benzoate (563, 528 and 457 for 1.25ml, 2.50ml and 5.00ml respectively); Honey (1002, 923 and 1213 for 1.25ml, 2.50ml and 5.00ml respectively) and Pepper fruit (861, 903 and 771 for 0.25g, 0.50g and 1.00g respectively) And the control sample had 673.
