Scale-up study on the supercritical carbon dioxide sterilisation of oil palm fresh fruit bunch

Abdul Khalil H. P. S.; Md Sohrab Hossain; Azhar M Easa; Asmah M Sofian; Tengku Norsalwani T. L.; Mohd Omar A. K.; Fatehah M Omar

Scale-up study on the supercritical carbon dioxide sterilisation of oil palm fresh fruit bunch

2020

Existing steam sterilisation method of oil palm fresh fruit bunch (OP-FFB) requires huge quantities of water and about 30%-60% of the water results in palm oil mill effluent (POME). In order to circumvent the perennial POME generation problem, it requires a waterless sterilisation system of OP-FFB. The present study was conducted to determine the sterilisation efficiency of OP-FFB using a pilot scale supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) technology. The sterilisation efficiency was evaluated based on the inactivation of Bacillus spp. and Aspergillus spp. in OP-FFB with varying SC-CO2 pressure (10-30 MPa), temperature (40°C-80°C) and treatment time (15-90 min). Complete inactivation of the microorganisms in OP-FFB was obtained after 45-90 min at treatment range of 10-30 MPa and 40°C-80°C. The findings of the present study reveal that the SC-CO₂sterilisation is a conceivable technology to be used in OP-FFB sterilisation, replacing the current water steam sterilisation technology.

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