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Some problems in improving tropical materials utilized by the United Kingdom oilmilling industry

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Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society

Abstract

This paper considers palm oil, palm kernels, and peanuts imported to the U.K., mainly from Nigeria. The origin of the oil palm and the peanut plant, their commercial development, and the antiquity of the use of palm oil is discussed, and a brief description is given of the manner in which the crops are handled and processed in West Africa.

By the control of lipolysis, due to 1) the presence of lipases in the fruit, 2) chemical hydrolysis, and 3) the lipolytic action of moulds, oil with about 1% fatty acid may be marketed; most Nigerian peasant-produced oil is below 5%. It is mainly edible, but not easily bleached. This is due to oxidation caused by lipoxidases in the fruit, and oxidation by air catalysed in the presence of metals, especially iron. By control of these factors Nigerian oil of excellent bleach-ability may be prepared.

Palm kernels suffer from acidity and browning. Development of acidity is ascribed to kernel breakage with concomitant development of lipolytic moulds and bacteria. Non-enzymic browning is mentioned.

Nigerian peanut oil from the 1951-52 crop averaged 5.63% free fatty acid content (FFA) compared with 1.46% for 1960-61. This improvement is largely due to improved methods of decortication. Some preliminary studies are reported concerning mould growth on kernels stored under West African conditions and work on toxicity associated with certain batches of peanuts, caused by the mould,Aspergillus flavus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Products Institute, London, England

    E. S. Hiscocks & W. D. Raymond

Authors
  1. E. S. Hiscocks
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  2. W. D. Raymond
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Additional information

Presented at the AOCS meeting, Toronto, 1962.

A station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 56-62 Gray's Inn Road, London, W. O. 1.

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Hiscocks, E.S., Raymond, W.D. Some problems in improving tropical materials utilized by the United Kingdom oilmilling industry. J. Am. Oil Chemist’ Soc. 41, 224–228 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03024655

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03024655

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