Moisture content, color quantification and starch content of oil palm trunk (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

Abstract

Research and utilization of oil palm trunk (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) have not been widely carried out. Knowledge the characteristics of oil palm trunk (OPT) as part of understanding this type for reference to further development. The aim of its study was (1) to determine the value of moisture content (MC) in fresh condition after cutting, (2) to quantify the color value (E), (3) to quantify the color change value (ΔE) in transverse and longitudinal cross-section and (4) to measure the percentage of starch content (SC). Results showed that MC for base (B), middle (M), up (U) and their average were 339.68%; 444.82%; 323.24% and 369.25% respectively. E value consisted of 4 parameters, namely FT (fresh-transversal), FL (fresh-longitudinal), OT (ovendry-transversal), and OL (ovendry-longitudinal). ΔE consisted of two parameters, namely ΔET (ΔE-transversal) and ΔEL (ΔE-longitudinal). Average E values for FT, FL, OT and OL were 87.61; 88.70; 78.01 and 79.34 respectively. Average values for ΔET and ΔEL were 10.73 and 9.33, respectively. SC was 0.047% from 1114 kg of oil palm trunk's total weight.