Effect of processing equipment and duration of storage of palm fruits on palm oil yield and quality in the Kwaebibrem District, Ghana

Abstract

We carried out a study in the Kwaebibrim District in the Eastern Region of Ghana to investigate the type of processing equipment and processing practices being used among small scale palm oil processors and their effects on yield and quality of crude palm oil produced. Questionnaire survey, focus group discussions and participant observations were used to collect data on the processing equipment and practices being used by the small-scale processors. The major processing practice identified to have a major effect on quality of processed palm oil was duration of storage of palm fruits before processing. Three categories of processing equipment were identified; digester screw press, digester with separate screw press and digester with separate hydraulic press. These three equipment were used to process palm fruits stored for 6 and 15 days after harvest to determine their effect on oil extraction rate and oil quality. The digester screw press had the highest extraction rate and oil yield of 13.5 and 25.5% respectively while the digester with separate screw press had the lowest extraction rate and oil yield of 11.7 and 22.1% respectively. The two durations of storage of palm fruits before processing however did not have any significant effect on the extraction rate. However, both the processing equipment and storage durations had significant (P<0.05) effect on the resultant quality of crude palm oil processed. The study suggests the need to avoid storing palm fruits before processing in order to produce high quality crude palm oil.