Determination of Diffusion Coefficient of Palm Kernel Oil in a Single Palm Kernel using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the amount of palm kernel oil extracted from a single palm kernel using a supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction technique. Further, the study sought to ascertain the values of the diffusion coefficient (D) of PKO in a single palm kernel by evaluation through a "Hot Ball Model", at constant temperature of 50°C and 60°C, and pressures ranges from 27.6 MPa, 34.5 MPa,41.4 MPa and 48.3 MPa respectively. Finally, the study also seeks to demonstrate the application of the diffusion coefficient values in relation to temperature and pressure. The diffusion coefficient for a single palm kernel was found to be in the range of 7.60 X 10^-7 cm²sec^-1 to 17.95 X 10^-7 cm²sec-1 ^{for a constant temperature of 50°C and in the range of 6.09 X 10-7 cm2sec-1 to 15.07 X 10-7 cm2sec-1 for a constant temperature of 60°C with the pressure ranges from 27.6 MPa to 48.3 MPa. The diffusion coefficient was also observed to be dependent on pressure but weakly dependent on temperature.}