ANALYSES OF COPPER CONCENTRATIONS IN PALM KERNEL CAKE FROM THREE INDUSTRIAL PALM KERNEL OIL MILLS.

Abstract

Palm kernel cake, a by-product of palm kernel seed oil processing was analysed for its metallic contamination as livestock feed without modification or Zinc supplementation. Metalloid analysis of cake from industrial output revealed Copper II ion (Cu²⁺) concentration in quantities dangerous to livestock. Samples of Palm kernel cake, De-oxidised cake and Palm kernel oil products from industrial lines were analysed to determine sources of contamination in the cake using flame photometry, flame emission spectroscopy and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The sources of contamination were traced to the feed quality, materials of construction of the expeller section and degree of purification of bye-product and waste discharged. Preliminary investigation in fresh fruit showed that copper was a component, in the range of 14.43±0.4 and 17.03±0.6 (µg/g) but  higher copper content was later found associated with by–products at higher concentrations along the  process lines, especially at the crushing and solvent extraction stages. To take care of high copper concentrations and obtain less contaminated cake from industrial practices with a good inventory mechanism with free and dried kernel with concerns to the materials of construction to enhance continuous usage of cake as livestock feed supplement was proposed.