Variability In Yield Oxidative Status And Appearance Of Palm Elaeis Guineensis Jacq Oils As Affected By Fruit Type And Extraction Equipment

This study investigates the variability in yield oxidative status and appearance of palm oils as affected by fruit type and extraction equipment in the small scale industry. A 23 factorial experimental design with palm fruit types Dura and Tenera and extraction equipment digester screw hand spindle and hydraulic presses were studied. Quality indices of oils i.e. free fatty acid ffa peroxide value moisture content impurities colour and yield were accessed using standard methods. The ffa values obtained for oils produced from both Dura and Tenera fruit types and the extraction equipment ranged 5.25 - 5.71 were above the CODEX standard of 5.0 . Furthermore significant differences were also recorded in both moisture contents and impurities from the same oils produced. The oil yield from Tenera fruit types were two folds higher than the Dura fruit types. The redness colour of palm oils for Dura fruit types was a little above the Tenera fruit types. However the yellowness and lightness of colour of palm oils for Tenera were higher than oils from Dura fruit types. Therefore the study concludes that the oil processors in the small scale industry preferred the digester screw press machine because it gave low level of impurities and moisture content than other presses. Tenera fruit type is the best choice for palm oil processing because of its higher oil yield content. However in terms of oil colour Dura fruit type is preferred.