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International Journal of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

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Saline Bath System for Separation of Palm Kernels from Shells

International Journal of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Vol.2 , No. 6, Publication Date: Dec. 23, 2017, Page: 67-73

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Authors

[1]	Lateef Ayodele Sanni, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
[2]	Taiwo Ohiare, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
[3]	Raifu Olanrewaju Ibrahim, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Abstract

Separation of palm kernels from cracked shells of the oil palm fruit is a difficult step in the production of palm kernel oil. An appraisal of the traditional clay-water bath separation method showed that the method was based on the difference in specific gravity of the palm kernels and the shells. The method was efficient but it was associated with many disadvantages which made it unsuitable for commercial production. Non-availability of clay and need for continuous agitation of the clay solution were among the disadvantages of the method. True density and bulk density of palm kernels and shells ranged from 1.03 – 1.07 g/cm³ and 0.65 – 0.66 g/cm³, and 1.16 – 1.43 g/cm³ and 0.52 – 0.55 g/cm³, respectively. Sodium chloride was used to replace clay soil and the separation of palm kernels and shells in the saline solution was efficient. All the palm kernels floated at salt concentration of 250 g/dm³ to 300 g/dm³ and all the shells sank to the bottom of the saline solution at all concentrations from 0 g/dm³ to 300 g/dm³. Increasing the quantity of mixture of palm kernels and shells reduced the separation efficiency slightly. Conceptual design of a saline bath system was developed for production of clean palm kernels on a commercial scale.

Keywords

Palm Kernels, Shells, Separation, Clay-Water, Saline Bath

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