Palm Oil By-products Research Articles

Converting palm fatty acid distillate into solid adsorbents through zinc chloride activation

Water pollution is a critical environmental concern, and this study explores the potential of utilizing adsorbents from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) for the removal of methylene blue (MB) and congo red (CR) dyes from aqueous solution. The PFAD, a by-product of palm oil refining is a valuable adsorbent feedstock because it is freely available, abundant and high in carbon content. The PFAD adsorbents were synthesized via zinc chloride activation and characterized for elemental composition, specific area, surface chemistry and morphology. The process converts the semi-solid PFAD into solid adsorbents with surface area ranging from 22 m2/g to 222 m2/g. The specific area significantly increased with pyrolysis temperature, and so the adsorption of dyes. The results provide insights into the viability of PFAD adsorbents for effective removal of MB and CR dyes. Nonetheless, the process optimization and the true potential of PFAD adsorbents should be further explored.

Surface functionalization of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB)-derived cellulose as a carboxyl platform for metal cations and dyes removal from aquatic media

The abundant oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) as by-product of palm oil milling processes exhibits a potential as an alternative cellulose feedstock for bio-adsorbent. This study aimed to produce a highly carboxylated bio-adsorbent for direct industrial application from OPEFB-based cellulose via mercerization and followed by esterification with succinic anhydride (SA) to enhance its adsorptive capability towards hazardous heavy metal and dyes ions. The modification using SA provides the carbon backbone platform for carboxyl group attachment for the contaminants. The results showed that the carboxylated cellulose had a high carboxyl content (4.39 mmol/g). Carboxylated cellulose had a higher binding capacity for adsorbates, with removal rates of 94.7%, 97.85%, 40.9%, and 90.15% for dye, Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ cations, respectively, at pH 6, 4 hours reaction time, and at room temperature. In comparison, unmodified cellulose removed only 47%, 23.1%, 2.9%, and 7.5% for dye, Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ cations, respectively. The adsorption kinetics study revealed that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption isotherm of these two metal cations follows the model of Langmuir very well, while Cu2+ follows the Freundlich model. Our method produces bio-adsorbents with high carboxyl content and adsorption rate in a short reaction time using OPEFB as a green precursor material that is easily scalable for industrial use.

Valorization of palm oil refining by-product for organotin mercaptide as a polyvinyl chloride thermal stabilizer: Synthesis, efficacy and comparison to mixed metal stearate

Organotin mercaptide-based thermal stabilizer is recognized for its effectiveness in enhancing thermal stability of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In this study, we synthesized an organotin mercaptide-based thermal stabilizer from palm fatty acid distillate, which is a by-product of palm oil refining process, and then evaluated its thermal stabilizing effects on PVC and compared its efficacy and economics to those of mixed metal stearate. The synthesized thermal stabilizer manifests as methyltin mercaptoethyl carboxylate sulfides. Both dehydrochlorination and two-roll mill discoloration tests have demonstrated the high efficacy of the resulting thermal stabilizer in stabilizing PVC, surpassing the performance of mixed metal stearate, as evidenced by the lower dosage required. The synthesized PVC thermal stabilizer not only provides effective stabilization but also presents a competitive viable alternative.

Potential of Solid Waste from Palm Oil as Fuel for Steam Power Plants in Palm Oil Factories

This research aims to analyze the potential electric energy contained in the by-products and processed waste of palm oil. Biomass derived from palm oil by-products can serve as an alternative source of energy, with potential calorific value to generate electricity from boilers or as renewable energy. While solid waste from palm oil by-products is commonly utilized as boiler fuel and fertilizer, it holds promise as a renewable energy source in its entirety. The research process includes problem identification, formulation, determination of research objectives, literature review, field surveys, primary data collection through observation and interviews, data analysis, and presentation of research results. Field observations from several visited palm oil mills reveal that solid waste by-products typically consist of 5-7% shell, 11-14% fiber, and 20-22% Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) per ton of processed Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB). Considering the maximum electricity requirement for processing 30 tons/hour and the potential electrical energy contained in each waste type, utilizing fiber waste alone as boiler fuel is sufficient, offering a potential electrical energy of 542.1 kW. Any excess electrical power generated (580 kW) by the boiler can be sourced from shell waste, enabling surplus electricity to be sold to external parties. With the surplus electrical power estimated at 130 – 70 kW/hour, operating for 20 hours per day yields a surplus of 1.4 – 2.6 MW/day from processing. The calorific value of solid palm oil waste is notably affected by its moisture content. Proper management of fiber waste utilization can effectively fulfill the energy needs of palm oil mills. Additionally, there is potential to sell approximately 648 – 686 kW of electrical energy externally, derived from shell waste and EFB.

Performance analysis and emission characteristics of VCR diesel engine using palm stearin oil biodiesel as fuel

Abstract The increasing depletion of fossil fuels has prompted international efforts to search for diesel substitutes. One way to considerably reduce fuel shortages would be to use bio-derived fuels as replacements. Transesterification of edible or nonedible vegetable oils yields biodiesel, which is one example of a bio-origin fuel and a workable solution. Biodiesel’s characteristics are often more advantageous than those of diesel. One well-known example of a nonedible vegetable oil is palm stearin. In this work, we investigate the potential use of transesterified palm stearin methyl esters (PSME) as a substitute fuel. A rated compression ratio (CR) of 17.5 and 210 bar of fuel injection pressure were employed in the experimental investigations, which were carried out at a constant speed of 1500 rpm. Our main goals were to reduce emissions and improve engine performance. The evaluation parameters encompassed brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and emission indices. It was observed that using PSME led to better performance and fewer emissions when compared to using conventional diesel, especially when the CR was 17.5. Increased BTE, decreased BSFC, lower air–fuel ratios, and decreased volumetric efficiencies were all correlated with higher CR. As a byproduct of palm oil, PSME shows promise as a seasonally and geographically specific feedstock for biodiesel production, providing benefits over conventional diesel fuels in terms of performance and the environment.

The Potential of Oil Palm Plantation Byproducts as Feed for Beef Cattle

Oil palm is one of the plantation commodities that Indonesia relies on to generate foreign exchange annually. The oil palm industry generates both solid and liquid waste. Oil palm waste is a byproduct of the oil palm industry that is not reused; however, with technological advancements, this waste can be utilized as supplementary feed, especially for ruminants. The waste obtained from oil palm plantations and oil palm mills includes oil palm fruit bunches, oil palm fibers, oil palm shells, oil palm kernel meal, oil palm leaves, and oil palm sludge. Mucuna barcteata can also be used as a protein source for animal feed. Research was conducted in the Sei Mangkei plantation, and feed trials were carried out in the Bangun PTPN III Plantation (Simalungun). The methods employed included surveys and laboratory research. Proximate analysis of the suspected feed sources was conducted by PT Saraswanti Indo Genetech Bogor, which encompassed total energy, moisture and ash content, total fat, protein, carbohydrates, crude fiber, calcium, and phosphorus. The weight gain of cattle after being fed the experimental diet was observed over a three-month period. The research results indicate that oil palm byproducts can support a population of 12,365 head of beef cattle per year. Mucuna bracteata, oil palm kernel meal, oil palm fronds, and solid decanter can be used as animal feed. A feed mixture containing 30% Mucuna resulted in the highest weight gain in cattle compared to the other three treatments, with an average daily gain of 0.97.

INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE MULTI-SERVICE MODELS TO BOOST LIVESTOCK FARMING SYSTEM

INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE MULTI-SERVICE MODELS TO BOOST LIVESTOCK FARMING SYSTEM

The Compressive Strength and Microstructure of Alkali-Activated Mortars Utilizing By-Product-Based Binary-Blended Precursors

Researchers have investigated the feasibility of using ultrafine palm oil fuel ash (u-POFA) as a cement replacement material because of its potential to reduce the environmental impact of concrete production. u-POFA, a by-product of palm oil fuel combustion, is a suitable replacement for Portland cement in concrete mixes because of its sustainability and cost-effectiveness. This study investigated the microstructural and compressive strengths of alkali-activated mortars (AAMs) based on fly ash (FA) and granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) being added with varying percentages of u-POFA. The mixture samples were prepared in eighteen mortars using sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) as the source material and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the alkaline activator. This study used field-emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to characterize the binary-blended mortars after 28 days of curing and determined the strength of the FA+GBFS (87.80 MPa), u-POFA+GBFS (88.87 MPa), and u-POFA+FA mortars (54.82 MPa). The mortars’ compressive strength was influenced by the CaO/SiO2 and SiO2/Al2O3 ratios in the mixture, which was directly due to the formation rate of geopolymer products of the calcium–alumina–silicate–hydrate (C–(A)–S–H), aluminosilicate (N–A–S–H), and calcium–silicate–hydrate (C–S–H) phases. Based on the contents of FA and GBFS, u-POFA significantly enhanced concrete strength; therefore, u-POFA used in a suitable proportion could enhance binary-blended AAMs’ microstructure.

Oil palm kernel globulin antihypertensive peptides: isolation and characterization, ACE inhibition mechanisms, zinc-chelating activity, security and stability.

Introduction: The oil palm kernel (OPK) expeller is the main byproduct of palm oil, but its utilization is limited. Methods: To obtain angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition peptides with Zn-chelating capacity, defatted oil palm kernel globulin hydrolysates (DOPKGH) were subjected to Sephadex G-15 gel electrophoresis, reverse-phase high liquid performance chromatography, and UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Results and discussion: Five representative oligopeptides, including Gln-Arg-Leu-Asp-Arg-Cys-Lys (QRLERCK), Leu-Leu-Leu-Gly-Val-Ala-Asn-Tyr-Arg (LLLGVANYR), Arg-Ala-Asp-Val-Phe-Asn-Pro-Arg (RADVFNPR), Arg-Val-Ile-Lys-Tyr-Asn-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly (RVIKYNGGGSG), and Glu-Val-Pro-Gln-Ala-Tyr-Ile-Pro (EVPQAYIP), without potential toxicity and allergenicity, were identified in DOPKGH. Of these, only EVPQAYIP showed both ACE-inhibitory activity (IC50: 102.75μmol/L) and Zn-chelating capacity (11.69mg/g). Molecular docking and inhibition kinetics showed that EVPQAYIP was a competitive inhibitor of ACE because it could bind to Glu384, Lys511, and Gln281 (belonging to the central S1 and S2 pockets, respectively) of ACE. Moreover, EVPQAYIP affects zinc tetrahedral coordination in ACE by binding to Glu411; the amino and carboxyl groups of EVPQAYIP chelate with zinc ions. During gastrointestinal digestion, the ACE inhibitory activity of EVPQAYIP was relatively stable. Additionally, EVPQAYIP enhanced zinc stability in the intestine and exerted antihypertensive effects in spontaneous hypertensive rats. These results suggest the potential application of OPK peptides as ingredients in antihypertensive agents or zinc fortification.

The Effect of Palm Oil Mill Effluent Supplementation on Post-Weaning Goat Performance

Palm oil mill effluent (POME), which is the one of by-product of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) processing, contains high nutrients and has the potential as an animal feed ingredient. This study aims to determine how supplementation of POME in the ration affects feed consumption, average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in post-weaning goats. Thirteen Bligon goats were divided into two groups, the control group was given forage and concentrate feed, and the treatment group was supplemented with 10% POME. The study was conducted for one month. The data studied were feed consumption, ADG, and FCR. Data analysis using T-Test. The results showed that the dry matter consumption of the treatment group compared to the control group was 0,53 ± 0,02 vs 0,39 ± 0,02 kg/head/day 63,07 ± 3,72 vs 55,34 ± 3,31 g/ kg0,75, crude protein consumption was 0,07 ± 0,04 vs 0,05 ± 0,04 kg/head/day 7,85 ± 0,46 vs 6,52 ± 0,36 g/ kg0,75, total digestible nutrients consumption was 0,30 ± 0,01 vs 0,22 ± 0,01 kg/head/day 35,47 ± 2,09 vs 31,05 ± 1,77 g/ kg0,75 (P<0.05), ADG was 67,85 ± 19,42 vs 55,61 ± 10,68 g/head/day (P<0,05) and FCR was 8,54 ± 2,85 vs 7,44 ± 2,03 (P>0,05). In conclusion, the supplementation of POME significantly improves the performance of weaning Bligon goats so that they can be used as supplementation feed to reduce production costs.

Safety and efficacy of oil palm phenolic supplementation in improving lipid profile among hyperlipidemic adults: a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Oil palm phenolic (OPP) is an antioxidant aqueous palm oil by-product and contains a high amount of phenolics. OPP has been proven to have many therapeutical benefits, and one of them is as an antihyperlipidemic agent. The previous phase 1 clinical trial proved OPP was safe to be orally consumed by healthy volunteers and yielded a good lipid profile. Thus, this phase 2 clinical trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness of OPP in improving the lipid profile among hyperlipidemic subjects. Methods: A parallel, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial was conducted for 2months on 50 hyperlipidemic subjects aged 20-50years old. The subjects were randomly distributed to two treatment arms with 25 participants each: control/placebo (11 males and 14 females) and 250mg of OPP (10 males and 15 females). The subjects were required to consume one capsule per day for 60days. Fasting blood sampling for routine blood profile (hematology, liver function, renal function, and lipid) analysis and a medical examination were conducted at baseline, day 30, and day 60. t-test analysis was used to compare the difference between two test groups. Results: The baseline lipid profile between control group (TC, 5.78 ± 0.52mmol/L; LDL, 3.88 ± 0.51mmol/L; HDL, 1.30 ± 0.25; TG, 1.30 ± 0.82), and 250mg OPP (TC, 5.76 ± 0.54mmol/L; LDL, 3.82 ± 0.59mmol/L; HDL, 1.37 ± 0.34; TG, 1.25 ± 0.54) is insignificant. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported. No abnormality in fasting blood parameters in all groups was found. Compared to the control group among male participants, the 250mg OPP group showed an improved serum triglyceride level. There were no statistically significant changes in all blood parameters from day 1 to day 60 with the exception of triglyceride level. Conclusion: The absence of SAEs reported and no abnormal findings in biochemistry and hematology results suggested that the 250mg OPP was safe to be taken by hyperlipidemic patients with a high probability of reducing triglyceride level in hyperlipidemic male patients The outcomes from this phase II trial suggest that by incorporating OPP supplements into the diet may be a promising strategy for individuals with hyperlipidemia to improve their lipid profiles and reduce cardiovascular risk. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and establish the long-term efficacy and safety of OPP supplementation in larger scale. Limitation: Small samples size hence lack of diversity (25 subjects per groups) and early sharing of treatment-response results. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04573218.

Optimal Composition of Palm Oil Biomass to Minimize Biomass Power Plants’ Greenhouse Gases Emission

Abstract The increasing energy demand and rising concern about climate change have become two significant factors in finding alternative energy sources other than fossil fuels. Biomass has been implemented by several tropical countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia to answer this challenge by utilizing palm oil by-products as boiler fuels to generate steam for palm oil mill (POM) processing as well as for electricity generation. Fiber and kernel shell have become two major palm oil residues that have been implemented for this purpose. Moreover, empty fruit bunch (EFB) can also become another alternative biomass to fuel the boiler. This study is aimed at analyzing and optimizing the utilization of fiber, shell, and EFB by adjusting percentile contents of those three constituents and evaluating the CO2 production. The result of this analysis indicates that the best composition to minimize the CO2 of the biomass power plant is using 70% fiber, 0% shell, and 30% EFB. However, the increase of NO2 and SO2 must also be considered to find the correct balance between those three emissions. In addition, EFB should be pretreated (drying and shredding) before the combustion to reduce the water content and the dimension of EFB.

Modelling the Tribological Performance of Palm mid olein in Cold Forging Test using DEFORM-3D

In the past, most metal-forming lubricants used mineral oils or other hazardous compounds as their primary foundation. Due to their non-toxic and biodegradable qualities, vegetable oils have the potential to replace mineral oil as a lubricant. Palm oil's byproduct is presently being researched as a biolubricant in order to expand its market beyond cooking oil. Modeling a finite element approach is one of the excellent predictions in tribological tests, notably in metal forming processes. The purpose of this paper is to serve as a modelling the metal forming process and demonstrate the use of palm mid olein as a biolubricant. The metal forming test is essential to the understanding of materials and engineering research because of the friction, wear behaviour, and deformation it produces. Utilizing aluminum (AA1100) as a specimen, this study compared the results of using palm oil-based metal forming oil to those of using commercial metal forming oil. In order to better understand the forging process, we analyse the material flow patterns of these parts at different die stroke levels. According to the findings, the friction of both tested experiment is slightly different where in ring compression test (RCT) test palm mid olein (PMO) has a higher friction ( m = 0.20 and μ = 0.0937) compare to commercial metal forming oil (CMFO) ( m = 0.15 and μ = 0.075) but in closed forging test, the friction PMO has found to be lower ( m = 0.39/μ = 0.159) compare to the CMFO ( m = 0.42/μ = 0.1675). From the investigated result also, PMO has a potential to be utilized as a metal forming lubricant.

Conversion of Oil Palm By-Products into Value-Added Products through Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Cultivation

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus species) is a popular and widely cultivated edible mushroom that can be found worldwide, including in Malaysia. However, its local production is unable to fulfil the market demand, partly due to the limited availability of rubber wood sawdust (RWS) as the conventional cultivation substrate. Furthermore, the palm oil industry in Malaysia generates large volumes of organic by-products that have caused environmental concerns. Therefore, the potential utilisation of oil palm waste-based substrates in order to develop a substitute RWS for Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom production is evaluated in this study, based on their agronomic performance and nutritional properties. Empty fruit bunches (EFBs), oil palm fronds (OPFs), and oil palm trunks (OPTs) were used to formulate the substrates. The control used was 100% RWS. Generally, 100% EFB showed a better agronomic performance, and mushroom growth was 1.9 times faster compared to the control, with a comparable mushroom yield. The crude protein and beta glucan content of mushrooms grown on oil palm by-product-formulated substrates were significantly higher than those grown using the control. Additionally, the number of fruiting bodies, crude protein, and beta glucan content of the mushrooms were positively correlated with potassium in the substrate. Therefore, 100% EFB could be used as a potential substitute for RWS for the cultivation and production of P. ostreatus.

Prevalence of aflatoxins contamination in palm kernel cake in Malaysia

ABSTRACT Palm kernel cake (PKC) is a by-product of palm oil that is mainly used as animal feed. The tropical climate of Malaysia, along with high humidity, favours the growth of aflatoxin-producing fungi. PKC contamination with aflatoxins poses a serious food safety risk. The PKC samples were collected from selected palm kernel crushers in Malaysia between January 2015 and February 2018. A total of twenty-four samples (n = 24) were collected from Southern Peninsula Malaysia (10), Central Peninsula Malaysia (5), Northern Peninsula Malaysia (4) and East Malaysia (5). These samples were analysed for aflatoxins by solvent extraction and immunoaffinity clean-up, followed by determination using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Aflatoxins level in all samples were less than 5 µg kg−1, meeting the maximum allowed limit of 20 µg kg−1 set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union (EU). The developed method of detecting aflatoxins as mentioned above was specific, easy, reliable and suitable for routine analysis of aflatoxins in animal feed.

Conversion of Oil Palm By-products into Value-added Products through Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Cultivation

Conversion of Oil Palm By-products into Value-added Products through Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Cultivation

Conversion of Oil Palm By-products into Value-added Products through Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Cultivation

Conversion of Oil Palm By-products into Value-added Products through Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Cultivation

Production of Fatty Esters from F Palm Oil By-Products for use as Phase Change Materials

Production of Fatty Esters from F Palm Oil By-Products for use as Phase Change Materials

Conversion of Oil Palm By-products into Value-added Products through Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Cultivation

Conversion of Oil Palm By-products into Value-added Products through Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Cultivation

Thermal stabilization of polyvinyl chloride by calcium and zinc carboxylates derived from byproduct of palm oil refining

Calcium and zinc carboxylates were prepared from palm fatty acid distillate, a byproduct of palm oil refining, via metathesis in aqueous ethanol. The formations of both metal carboxylates have been confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis has shown that the prepared calcium and zinc carboxylates are practically stable while their weight losses are 14% at 393 °C and 19% at 311 °C, respectively. The efficacy of the metal carboxylates in their mixtures in stabilizing polyvinyl chloride against heat has also been studied by using static and dynamic tests. The calcium to zinc ratio of 4:1 has been found to give the longest stability time under the studied condition. The mixed calcium/zinc carboxylates demonstrate a synergism effect with pentaerythritol. The results reveal that mixed calcium/zinc carboxylates from palm fatty acid distillate are effective in stabilizing polyvinyl chloride against heat.