Development of a Palm Oil Clarifier Unit for Small Scale Palm Oil Processors

In most palm oil processing countries in Africa, a huge quantity of the oil is processed informally by small-scale processors which contribute significantly to national production. Unfortunately processing losses by small-scale processors are very high, reaching 15% of total crude palm oil production. Such huge losses account for the fact that the sector contributes barely 50% of the total crude palm oil production despite occupying up to 70% of the cultivated area. Palm oil clarification as a unit operation generates more than 50% of the palm oil mill wastewater. It therefore contributes enormously to oil losses in palm oil processing. The objective of this research therefore was to design a more efficient palm oil clarifier suitable for use by small-scale processors in order to curb oil losses. A two-chamber prototype palm oil clarifier, integrated with a palm oil dryer has been developed. Performance evaluation with oil from a screw press puts the throughput, extraction rate and clarifier efficiency at 0.82, 16.33 and 74.24% respectively when the clarification temperature is 85oC at mole ratio1:2. This equipment can be very useful to non-industrial palm oil producers who are unable to afford sophisticated equipment. Adequate clarifier design can significantly improve on the performance of non-industrial palm oil mills.