Sterilization is one of the key processes in the palm oil mill. The fresh fruit bunches are cooked using steam at a pressure of 3 bar for about 70 to 90 min. The bunches are sterilized in batches using two to six horizontal cylindrical shaped vessels called sterilizers fitted with one or two quick opening doors. Cages are used to transfer the bunches in and out of the sterilizers, and various other equipment are needed for the handling of these cages, including overhead cranes, tippers, conveyors, transfer carriages and tractors. Considerable space and a system of rails are required to facilitate the filling of the cages and the charging and discharging of the sterilizers.

Main Researcher: Dr Sivasothy Kandiah