PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF PALM OIL OBTAINED FROM MAJOR MARKETS IN WUKARI, TARABA STATE.

Abstract

Palm oil is the most commonly used vegetable oil in Wukari, and Nigeria at large, due to its numerous benefits, among which include health and nutritional. Therefore, it is very important to investigate the quality of palm oil being sold in the markets to checkmate the level of adulteration being introduced due to economic meltdown experienced in recent times. In this study, oil samples were obtained at different sale points from Wukari major markets where Physical and chemical properties were investigated using standard procedures. The results showed that the moisture content ranged from 0.41% - 0.98%. Only sample OM2 was within SON permissible limit. The specific gravity ranged from 0.91g/cm3- 0.92g/cm3. Sample NM1, NM2 and OM2 were slightly above the stipulated range of SON standard. The free fatty acids range was 23.4%-82.1% for the various samples. The Peroxide value range was 10.2mg/g-21.6mg/g, with the rest being above the stipulated value of SON standard except for NM1 only. The ester value ranged within 1404.3-2529.3mgKOH/g. The saponification values range;165.4-245.4mg/g. The oil sample OM1 was below the standard range which may be due to the high amount of unsaponifiable matter, while samples NM1, NM2, NM3 and OM2 were higher, above the SON value, indicating a lower amount of unsaponifiable matter. The acid value range was 1649.7, 1731.6, 2745.3, 2191.2 and 2657.2mgKOH/g respectively. The melting points range was 82-80OC.The viscosities range was 68.72-147.74mm2/s. The iodine value range was from 1.0mg/L to 17.8mg/L. The oil samples generally indicated poor physicochemical properties in this study, implying a high level of adulteration.