Influence of palm kernel variables on the yield and quality of oil expressed using an expeller

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to establish the impact order of the oil-palm kernel processing variables, namely: kernel moisture content (KMC), kernel heating temperature (KHT), kernel heating duration (KHD), and kernel particle size (KPS) on the palm kernel oil (PKO) yield; to develop an empirical model for the PKO yield as influenced by the KMC, KHT and KHD; to investigate the effect of the KMC, KHT and KHD on the PKO quality; and to specify levels of the kernel variables for the maximum PKO yield with minimum variability. The study was undertaken using oil-palm kernels of unidentified variety from Nsukka, Nigeria. The statistical analysis of data was performed with Design-Expert 8P and Minitab 19 Software at P = 0.05. The impact order of the studied kernel variables on the PKO yield, using an expeller (MS-100), was found to be the KPS, KMC, KHD, and KHT. For the maximum PKO yield with minimum variability in the PKO yield, a KMC of 5% (wb), a KHT of 80 °C, a KHD of 10 min, and a KPS of 11 mm and above is recommended.