EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OIL FROM PRE-MATURE PALM KERNEL

Palm kernel oil was extracted from crushed premature palm kernel using n-hexane as solvent. The experimental investigations reveal that the maximum yield of oil was obtained when the weight of the solvent used is equal to the weight of crushed premature palm kernel used. The particle size of 20 British standard sieve, that is 1.0795mm approximately is used and the temperature of the solvent is close to the boiling point, but solvent loss is so much that 50oC is recommended instead for laboratory and 60oC for industries. The characteristics of the oil were free fatty acid (0.78), iodine value (20.45), saponification value (179.35), acid value (1.54), smoke point (165oc) relative density (0.9011), peroxide value (0) and refractive index (1.432)