Design and Testing of a Simple Village Level Deodorizing System for Coconut Oil

Author : Del Mundo, Jennifer Oppus
Major Adviser : Lozada, Ernesto P.
Committee Members : Acda, Reynaldo I.; Arquiza, Apollo C.
Year : 1992
Month : March
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract

A simple village level deodorizing system of 20-liter oil capacity was designed for continuous stripping deodorization of coconut oil. Performance of the system was evaluated based on product quality, fuel consumption, water consumption and deodorization time.

Results of olfactory evaluation using the modified method of Mabesa (1986) showed that the fresh oil (from newly processed copra) was deodorized from an odor rating of 80% to 98% after 9 hours of deodorization, taking 100% as completely odorless. The old oil (stored for several months) was deodorized from an odor rating of 40% to 80%. Free fatty acid (FFA) content of the fresh oil was reduced by 0.052% while the FFA content of the old oil was reduced by 0.058%. Clarity of the new oil increased from 9% to 52% transmittance, taking 100% transmittance as absolutely clear.

The Los Banos Burner was used as the system burner due its long flame duration and adequate heating capacity. Coconut shell charcoal was observed to be the appropriate fuel due to its long flame duration and good flame behavior. Fuel consumption in 9-hour deodorization were found to be 27.4 kg, 42.5 kg, 90.9 kg and 102.8 kg for wood charcoal, coconut shell charcoal, cracked coconut shell and uncracked coconut shell, deodorizer respectively. The minimum water-oil ratio of the deodorizer was 1:2 and water consumption was 14.4 liters per 20-liter crude coconut oil deodorized. Direct heating was also found to be an applicable method of drying the oil.


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