Optimization of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Production with Diffuser Type Aeration Method

Abstract

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is pure coconut oil with low free fatty acid content and high lauric acid content. VCO has been produced in many home industries where the yield obtained is still very small. So, the researchers tried to find a more efficient production process so that they could obtain high process yields. Researchers made VCO using the aeration method with a diffuser type aerator. The experimental variables were air flow rate (L / min): 0.6; 1.8; 4.0; 4,5 and the duration of the aeration process (hours): 2; 3; 4; 5, by using coconut milk from 1 kg of grated coconut in 1 liter of water, the maximum yield is 33.5% at an air flow rate of 4.0 L / min with an aeration time of 4 hours. The quality of VCO obtained were: water content of 0.02%; iodine number 5,54%; peroxidation number 1.36 g.iod / 100 g; 0.19% free fatty acids; saturated fatty acid content of 93.71% and unsaturated fatty acid 6.24% and the color is very clear. The quality test results obtained are in accordance with the quality standards required by SNI 7381-2008.