Prospects of Palm Fruit Extraction Technology: Palm Oil Recovery Processes and Quality Enhancement

ABSTRACT

Palm oil plays a vital role as edible vegetable oil for daily human consumption. However, the process technologies and the quality of palm oil produced have remained stagnant for the past decades. This paper reviews the latest development in the process technologies that can be applied in the palm oil milling process to improve the sustainability and efficiency of palm oil production, as well as the quality of the oil produced. Additionally, the rising concerns on process contaminants, i.e. 3-monochloropropane diol (3-MCPDE) and glycidyl ester (GE), found in the refined edible oils have intensified the efforts to develop methods that can improve the quality of crude palm oil produced from the mills. This study will be beneficial for the development of a sustainable palm oil milling process with improved oil quality.

KEYWORDS:

• 3-monochloropropane diol (3-MCPDE)
• glycidyl ester (GE)
• palm oil extraction
• process efficiency
• oil quality assessment

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the support from the Sime Darby Plantation Research, Monash-Industry Palm Oil Education and Research Platform, Monash University Malaysia, and Sime Darby Foundation.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Abbreviations

3-MCPDE – 3-monochloro-1, 2-propanediol esters

BOD – Biochemical oxygen demand

CBC – Cake breaker conveyor

COD – Chemical oxygen demand

CPO – Crude palm oil

DAG – Diacylglycerols

DCO – Diluted crude oil

DOBI – Deterioration of bleachability index

EFB – Empty fruit bunch

EFSA – European Food Safety Authority

FFA – Free fatty acid

FFB – Fresh fruit bunch

GE – Glycidyl esters

MAE – Microwave-assisted extraction

MAG – Monoacylglycerols

MPOB – Malaysian Palm Oil Board

OER – Oil extraction rate

PFF – Palm press fiber

PKO – Palm kernel oil

POME – Palm oil mill effluent

PORAM – Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia

PPKO – Processed palm kernel oil

PPO – Processed palm oil

RBDPO – Refined, bleached, deodorized palm oil

SC-CO₂ – Supercritical carbon dioxide

SFB – Sterilized fruit bunch

TAG – Triacylglycerols

UAE – Ultrasound-assisted extraction