INVESTIGATING THE POTENTIAL OF DRIED PALM OIL MILL EFFLUENTS FROM PRESSING AND WATER DISPLACEMENT METHODS FOR ANIMAL FEED

Palm oil mill effluent is a wasteful part from production of palm oil. This study intends to investigate if the dried product obtained from the two processing methods; water displacement and pressing methods, can be used as animal feed considering the chemical, anti nutritional and rancidity potentials of the products. Palm oil mill effluent samples from both pressing and water displacement methods were obtained from a small scale palm oil production industry in Itaogbolu, Ondo State. The samples were concentrated to thick slurry using FUTA Concentrator and dried in a cabinet dryer at 70 0C and milled with attrition mill. Each of the samples was subjected to chemical analyses using AOAC methods, Mineral composition using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and the anti - nutritional factors using standard methods. The study showed that the samples were rich in protein content (17.54) for pressing method (PEP) and (17.81) for water displacement method (PEW). Potassium (835mg/100g), phosphorus (1042mg/100g), and copper 45mg/100g of sample PEW are higher than that of sample PEP which are (495mg/100g), (655mg/100g) and (35mg/100g) for potassium, phosphorus and copper respectively. Zinc value for PEP 50mg/100g is higher than that of PEW which is 30mg/100g. Calcium level of the two samples is low compared to other minerals which is (0.8mg/100g) and (1.14mg/100g) for PEP & PEW respectively. The saponification value (140±0.10g), free fatty acid value (7.47±0.09g), and acid value (14.94±0.18g) for sample PEP is higher than that obtained for sample PEW which are (84.15±0.05g), (5.1±0.10g) and (10.22±0.17g) for saponification value, free fatty acid and acid value respectively. Results of the peroxide value of the palm oil mill effluent from (PEW) (33.50±0.50g/kg) suggest that it is more vulnerable to oxidative rancidity and deterioration than the result obtained for (PEP)( 26.5±0.50g/kg) . The low level of iodine value in the two samples suggests that they contain low level of polyunsaturated fatty acid. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that dried palm oil mill effluent especially PEW is suitable for production of fish feed due to its high fat and mineral content, more especially that fish feed will further undergo heat treatment to reduce the microbial load and the phytate contents.