In the clarification of crude palm oil in the mill, the crude slurry is held for 4 to 7 hr in a vertical clarifier to allow the oil to rise above the sludge. Hot water is added and the temperature maintained at 95o C to reduce the viscosity of the slurry to enhance the rising of the oil. However, these conditions also promote hydrolysis of the oil to free fatty acids and their oxidization to peroxides. These unwanted reactions must be controlled to maintain the oil quality. A new concept for clarifying crude palm oil was recently proposed by MPOB to reduce the clarification time and hence, the oil quality deterioration. The process uses a cyclo-separator together with a filter press to remove suspended solids from the process stream, thus, reducing the organic constituents of the waste water leaving the clarification plant. With less solids, less land are required for effluent treatment plant. Thus, leads to a simpler design of the biological process.

Main Research: Mohamad Sulong