Improvement of palm kernel extraction rate (KER) and palm kernel analysis

• Main Author: Augustus Galang, Anak Minggu
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English; English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 2017
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/26322/1/Improvement%20of%20palm%20kernel%2024pgs.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/26322/4/Augustus%20Galang%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/26322/

Palm kernel oil is edible plant oil derived from the palm fruit. The palm kernel was obtained from fleshy mesocarp of the palm fruit. The palm kernel has the oil that highly varied nutrient demand which by several factor that is soil moisture, temperature, plantations area, water and high/low humidity. The mass balance for palm kernel was categories as full kernel, shell and fibres. This purpose of this analysis was to improve the palm kernel extraction rate (KER) and palm kernel daily analysis. This analysis will improve the productions of palm kernel up to 6% from total 100% production of palm fruit or bunches. This analysis was made because of increasing in kernel losses which will reduce the company benefits and profits. The data collection was made at loading ramp station, digester station, press machine station, palm recovery station and kernel bunker and silo station. The data collection was made at Bau Palm Oil Mill SDN BHD that was supervised by mill engineer, Miss Patricia Henry. The data that has already collected will analysed at the mill laboratory to get the precious reading to avoid the error. The collections of data will compare with previous analysis to manipulate the actual problem of kernel losses. This procedure will repeated at least 8 times to get the actual value of kernel losses. The literature review for palm kernel analysis have been studied carefully through books, journal, articles, MPOB manual guidance, internet and other relevant sources for the purpose of studied and complete the palm kernel analysis accurately. The researched methodology is planned based on the objectives that need to be achieved. Gantt chart was developed to plan the frame work to meet the time line for the project. Through the research, the finding reveals that there is a lots of kernel losses at each station that selected due on human error and palm fruit accepted. This error will minimize by accurate analysis and precious laboratory analysis. As the recommendations for future research, a study to increase the efficiency of palm fruit production and accepting must be design to increase the palm kernel production.