Effects of Sterilization Times of Palm Bunches on Fruit-Bunch Separation,  Crude Palm Oil Yield and Quality Using Direct Steaming

Siravit Pakdeechot; Sherly Hanifarianty; Makatar Wae-hayee

Authors

Siravit Pakdeechot Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, 90112 Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
Sherly Hanifarianty Sembawa Research Center, Indonesian Rubber Research Institute (IRRI), Jalan Raya Palembang-Pangkalan Balai KM. 29, P.O. BOX 1127, Palembang, South Sumatera, 30001, Indonesia
Makatar Wae-hayee Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, 90112 Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

Keywords:

Fresh fruit bunch (FFB), palm oil milling, crude palm oil (CPO), oil palm sterilization, steaming

Abstract

In palm oil milling factory, Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) must undergo by sterilizing before processing oil extraction. In commercial industry, conventional sterilization units, a boiler and a sterilizer in steaming process, are separated. To minimize srerilization unit, a boiler and a sterilizer can be combined in one unit. Therefore, the aim of this work is to study ability to combine the boiler and the sterilizer in one unit. Palm fruit bunches were sterilized in a mini sterilizer by direct steaming at 2.5 bar for 30, 45, 60 and 70 minutes. The results show that a percentage of fruit-bunch separation and crude palm oil yield increased when sterilization time was longer. The trend of increasing crude palm oil yield was similar to the trend of increasing fruit-bunch separation. The suggested condition was at 60 minutes giving acceptable fruit-bunch separation, FFA and DOBI.