Purification of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) Using Cocoa Fruit Skins and Rice Straw Waste as Bioadsorbents

Abstract

Crude palm oil is a crude oil that contains triglyceride compounds, free fatty acids, pigments, phosphatides, partial glycerides, coloring agents, and carotene k. The aims of this research are to examine the effect of contact time and mass ratio of bioadsorbents derived from cocoa pod peels and rice straw waste on the reduction of free fatty acid levels, peroxide value, and carotene content. Waste rice straw and cacao fruit peels are carbonized before the bioadsorbents are activated. Furthermore, 100 mL of heated CPO is mixed with bioadsorbent in the following mass ratios (1:1, 1:3, 1:5, and 3:1) for 60 and 120 minutes, respectively, with a stirring speed of 500 rpm and a temperature of 110oC maintained. Then it was filtered, and the filtrate was taken. The filtrate obtained was analyzed for free tatty acid content, peroxide value and carotene content. The results of this research show the best conditions for reducing free fatty acid levels, peroxide values, and carotene content, notably 1:5 in 120 minutes, yielded 93.70%, 81.58%, and 28.94% reductions, respectively.