Nigerian Palm Oil: Quality Disparity, Contamination and Processing Wastes Handling

Abstract

The review article intended to provide an overview of quality variation and various contaminants in locally processed palm oil (PO). The paper also deliberates on the pros and cons of wastes generated during PO processing. There is a serious concern about the quality and safety of crude PO in Nigeria resulting from poor quality raw materials, inadequate processing know-how, inappropriate packaging and storage facilities, poor handling and transportation system and more importantly adulteration by producers and marketers. Wide disparities in the chemical and physical composition were reported in the literature. This may result from the variations in the chemical composition of the palm fruit, environmental factors, variation in processing operations which is determined by the location and abuse during handling and transportation. Microbial contamination is the foremost safety challenge in Nigerian crude PO processing. Higher microbial counts and the presence of toxic microorganisms including aflatoxins-producing fungi were reported by many researchers. Oil palm production in contaminated soil account for PO heavy metals contamination, though, heavy metals contamination below permissible limits was reported in most cases. Wastes generated from PO processing can be detrimental to the environment. Alternately, various benefits can be derived from the proper handling and utilisation of PO processing wastes. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a good substrate for the production of organic manure, biomolecules and amendment of oil-contaminated soil. Recommendations on how to tackle various challenges along the PO supply chain were presented at the end of the paper.

Modulation of Cytokine Expression and Antimalarial Activity of Residual Aqueous Fraction of the Methanol Leaf Extract of Ficus Asperifolia in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Mice

“…Analysis of leaf extracts from Ficus asperifolia indicated the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, and cardiac glycosides. This report agrees with the findings of Omaniwa and Luka (2012) and Abdullahi et al (2023). Secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and steroids play crucial roles in the biological activities of plants (Edewor-Kuponiyi, 2013;Rungsung et al, 2015).…”

“…The extract was reconstituted with 300 ml of distilled water. The reconstituted extract was placed in a separating funnel and 300 ml of chloroform was added sequentially as a 1:1 (v/v) solution and shaken (Abdullahi et al, 2023). The sample was left to stand for 30 minutes in the separating funnel until a fine separation line appeared indicating the supernatant from the sediment before desorption.…”

“…The preliminary phytochemical composition of the residual aqueous fraction (RAF) of the methanol leaf extract of Ficus asperifolia was determined using phytochemical screening (Abdullahi et al, 2023).…”

“…Investigations carried out have demonstrated the significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the methanol leaf extract of Ficus asperifolia (Abdullahi et al, 2020). Most recently, the work of Abdullahi et al, (2023) revealed that the methanol leaf extract possesses significant suppressive, prophylactic and curative antiplasmodial properties but the active fraction and the possible mechanism of activity has not been suggested making it a justification for further research. water ad libitum.…”

Bacteriological analysis of leachate at dumping sites of some selected areas in Damaturu Yobe State, Nigeria

“…Abdullahi and Suleiman (2023) Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal for the Tropics 20(2)August, 2023 ISSN 0794 -9057; eISSN 2645 -3142 …”