Design, fabrication and testing of a roaster for palm (Elaeis guineensis) kernel

Akinoso, Rahmon and Olayanju, T.M.A. and Bankole, L.M. (2008) Design, fabrication and testing of a roaster for palm (Elaeis guineensis) kernel. Journal of Food Science and Technology -Mysore, 45 (1). pp. 92-93.

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Abstract

Roasting of palm (Elaeis guineensis) kernel before oil extraction improves oil yield. A roaster was designed, fabricated and tested to replace sun drying method usually practiced by most of the small scale palm kernel oil mills in Nigeria. The roaster uses electricity as source of heat energy. For effective heat and mass transfer, an agitator was incorporated for mixing. Screw conveyor was employed for discharge. Efficacy of the machine was tested by using it to roast palm kernel of 5.9% moisture content (wb) at 130°C for 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. Moisture content was reduced from 5.9 to 4.3% (wb) after 20 min of roasting. Oil yield at these process conditions was compared with that obtained using sun drying. The palm kernel oil yields from the roaster were 33.6, 35.9, 39.0 and 41.2% while sun drying gave 24.3, 25.7, 26.8, and 27.3% at the durations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 min, respectively. The oil yield was increased to 87.4% by using roaster.

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