MODIFICATION OF SEQUENCE OF UNIT OPERATIONS IN MECHANIZED PALM FRUIT PROCESSING

Abstract

Induced free space among nuts in the press cake as the palm oil is expelled during pressing was identified as the basic cause of excessive nut breakage/crushing when screw press is used for palm oil extraction. This is the cause of unpleasant odour/taste and congealing associated with palm oil processed by mechanical method unlike the one processed using traditional technique. Palm nut-pulp separation was also revealed as the only unit operation of the traditional palm fruit processing method that has not been mechanized. The various nut-fibre separators in the present day mechanized palm fruit processing of all scales was in addition identified as an error and shouldn’t have been if the appropriate nut-pulp separating step of the traditional palm fruits processing technique was not misinterpreted at the beginning by the pioneer European authors of the native oil palm fruits processing technology. Thus, palm nut-pulp separating machines should be designed, developed and installed between the digester and press in all the existing and future palm oil production mills to ensure mass production and effective recovery of high quality palm oil and kernel. Also recommended is the phasing out of nut-fibre separation step and all machineries/equipment associated with it in all mechanized palm fruit processing.