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VOLUME 13 NO.2 - December 2001

CHARACTERIZATION OF GLYCEROL RESIDUE FROM
A PALM KERNEL OIL METHYL ESTER PLANT

YONG, K C; OOI, T L; DZULKEFLY, K;WAN YUNUS, W M Z and HAZIMAH, A H

Glycerol residue, a by-product of glycerol refining from a palm kernel oil methyl ester plant, was characterized using standard test methods. The selected parameters were the contents of glycerol, ash, moisture and matter organic non-glycerol (MONG) and pH. It was found to contain, on average, 20.2% glycerol, 64.3% ash, 3.0% moisture, 12.4% MONG at pH 12.8. Fatty acids (6.6%) were isolated and comprised mainly C8:0 (30.3%), C10:0 (9.4%) and C12:0 (40.8%).

EFFECTS OF ADDITIVES ON PALM-BASED POLYURETHANE FOAMS

TUAN NOOR MAZNEE, T I; NORIN, Z K S; OOI, T L;SALMIAH, A and GAN, L H

A preliminary study was made on the effects of some additives on the properties of palm-based polyurethane foam, such as density, hardness and curing time. The additives - Ethacure 100, Ethacure 300, Amisol CDE and KD-1, N-methyl-2,2'-iminodiethanol (MDEA) and phthalic anhydride - were incorporated into the polyurethane foam by mixing with blended polyols (40 g palm-based polyol with 60 g petro-based polyol) and MDI (4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocynanates) and 2.3 g water used as the blowing agent. Incorporating 5 ppH Ethacure 100 and 10 ppH Amisol (either CDE or KD-1) substantially increased the density of the foams from 264 kg m-3 and the hardness from 34.5 to 55 shore D, while the demoulding time was decreased from 20 min to less than 5 min.

CRUDE GLYCERINE RECOVERY FROM GLYCEROL RESIDUE WASTE FROM A PALM KERNEL OIL METHYL ESTER PLANT

OOI, T L; YONG, K C; DZULKEFLY, K;WAN YUNUS, W M Z and HAZIMAH A H

Eight samples of glycerol residue (GRI-1 to GRI-8) from one batch (GRI) were subject to chemical and physical treatments to recover crude glycerine, crude fatty acids and salt. The average weight percentages of the recovered components were: crude glycerine 33.9%, crude fatty acids 10.5% and salt 65.2%. The average composition of the recovered crude glycerine was: glycerol 51.4%, ash 13.8%, water 8.9% and matter organic non-glycerol (MONG) 25.9%. Crude glycerines with pH from 1-2 and 5-7 were produced. Chemical treatment at low pH (1-2) was better as it increased the glycerol and reduced the ash contents in the recovered crude glycerine. However, the MONG content was slightly increased. The treatment also increased the recovered salt and reduced the crude glycerine (giving a crude glycerine with lower dissolved salt and higher glycerol), but did not affect the recovery of crude fatty acids.

GEOMETRICAL ISOMERS OF THE MAJOR PROVITAMIN A PALM CAROTENES, a- and b-CAROTENES IN THE MESOCARP OIL OF FRESH AND STERILIZED PALM FRUITS,
CRUDE PALM OIL AND PALM CAROTENE-BASED PRODUCTS: RED PALM OLEIN AND CAROTENE CONCENTRATES

BONNIE TAY YEN PING; CHOO YUEN MAY;GWENDOLINE EE CHENG LIAN and GOH SWEE HOCK

Polymeric C30 reversed-phase (RP) liquid chromatography (LC) columns were used to identify the geometrical isomers of the major carotenes from the mesocarp oil of fresh (MOFPF) and sterilized palm fruits ( MOSPF), crude palm oil (CPO) and palm carotene-based products (red palm olein [RPOo] and carotene concentrates). In MOFPF, the isomers of a-carotene were all trans, 13-cis, 13'-cis and 9-cis and the isomers of b-carotene all trans and 13-cis. MOSPF had similar geometrical isomers plus two unidentified cis a-and b-carotenes. CPO had the geometrical isomers of MOSPF plus 9-cis-b-carotene. The isomer profiles of carotenoid extracts from RPOo and carotene concentrates (CC1 and CC2) had similar patterns to that of CPO. The percentage compositions of total cis-isomers of a - and b-carotene in MOFPF, MOSPF, CPO, RPOo, CC1 and CC2 were 18.2%, 44.9%, 43.5%, 45.4%, 55.9%, and 38.8%, respectively.

PROPERTIES OF SODIUM SOAP DERIVED FROM PALM-BASED DIHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID

ROILA AWANG; SALMIAH AHMAD and RAZMAH GHAZALI

Sodium soap of dihydroxystearic acid (DHSA) was prepared by reacting DHSA and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The properties of the soap, such as foamability, detergency, biodegradability and wetting power were evaluated. DHSA soap had higher foamability and detergency than stearic acid soap, comparable to palm stearin sulphonated methyl ester (SME) at room temperature. DHSA soap degraded more than 60% in 28 days, but stearic acid soap only 30%. The wetting time for DHSA soap was 2 min, comparable to SME but faster than stearic acid soap. DHSA soap also exhibited good corrosion inhibition with a corrosion rate of 0.002 mm yr-1 at 100 ppm.

REFINING OF CRUDE GLYCERINE RECOVERED FROM GLYCEROL RESIDUE BY SIMPLE VACUUM DISTILLATION

YONG, K C, OOI, T L, DZULKEFLY, K;WAN YUNUS, W M Z and HAZIMAH, A H

Glycerol residue obtained from the refining of glycerol in a palm kernel oil methyl ester plant is a schedule waste and can be processed to recover its glycerol. On average, 141.8 g (14.2%) distilled glycerine (97% purity) were recovered from 1 kg glycerol residue by a simple vacuum distillation at 120OC - 126OC and 4.0 x 10-1 - 4.0 x 10-2 mbar pressure. The pH for distillation was kept <5 in order to avoid foaming. The characteristics of the distilled glycerine were: 96.6% glycerol, 0.03% ash, 1% water (Karl Fischer method), 2.4 % matter organic non-glycerol (MONG) and pH 3.5.

VOLUME 13 NO.1, June 2001

EFFECTS OF METSULFURON-METHYL ON ALS ACTIVITY AND ITS METABOLISM IN IMMATURE OIL PALM 

ISMAIL, B S* and CHONG TET-VUN*

The effects of metsulfuron-methyl on injury and acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity were measured in immature oil palm seedlings under greenhouse conditions. Metsulfuron-methyl sprayed directly onto seedlings caused a whole range of injuries to the 18-month-old oil palm seedlings, but its residue in soil did not affect seedling growth. Chlorosis appeared three weeks after treatment (WAT). The percentage of injury score was found to increase proportionally with herbicide dosage. Metsulfuron-methyl inhibited ALS enzyme in the seedlings. Metsulfuron-methyl at 41 nM could inhibit 50% activity (I₅₀) of the ALS enzyme. Metsulfuron-methyl compound was metabolized to seven metabolites, of which two could not be identified.

GENOTYPE x ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION AND STABILITY ANALYSES IN OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)
PROGENIES OVER SIX LOCATIONS

RAFII, M Y* ; RAJANAIDU, N*; JALANI, B S* AND ZAKRI, A H**

Genotype and environment (G x E) interaction was estimated in 40 oil palm dura x pisifera progenies, evaluated at six locations for yield and its components. The presence of G x E interaction was detected for yield and its components. The G x E variance component was relatively small and ranged from 3.53% to 4.12%. The result showed that fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield had a larger G x E variance component (_gl) than genetic variance component (_g), indicating that this character was very sensitive to the environment. The joint regression analysis showed that the linear regressions accounted for a small proportion of the total G x E interaction. This suggests that a non-linear component part of G x E interaction for the characters played an important role.

The combined use of all the stability determination methods could provide a better inter-pretation of individual stability of genotypes. Combined use of 10 stability statistics for FFB yield indicated that progenies DP8 and DP21 were highly stable genotypes, which also produced above average FFB yield. On the other hand, progenies DP7 and DP30 were the most unstable genotypes as indicated by all the stability parameters.

EFFECTS OF Azospirillum INOCULATION ON N2 FIXATION AND GROWTH OF OIL PALM PLANTLETS AT NURSERY STAGE

AMIR, H G*; SHAMSUDDIN, Z H*; HALIMI, M S*; RAMLAN, M F** and MARZIAH, M

 Nitrogen fertilizer is the most expensive nutrient input in oil palm production, with an average total nitrogen fertilizer cost estimated at RM 470 million yr^-1. The use of nitrogen fixing bacteria (e.g. Azospirillum spp.) as a biofertilizer and bioenhancer can reduce the production cost of this crop. A glasshouse experiment was undertaken to observe the effects of Azospirillum inoculation on N₂ fixation, plant growth and photosynthetic rate of the host plant. This experiment was conducted in undrained pots with ¹⁵N labelled Selangor series soil and each pot was planted with a two-month-old oil palm plantlet (MPOB clone, P149). Three treatment were applied: 1) control [+ killed inoculum (Sp7)]2) Azospirillum brasilense (Sp7) inoculation and 3) A. lipoferum (CCM 3863) inoculation. This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications and harvested four months after planting. Two weeks before harvest, the first fully expanded leaf from each seedling was analysed for light and CO₂ response using a closed system of portable infra-red gas analyser. At harvest, the plantlets were separated into tops and roots, dried, weighed and ground for total nitrogen and ¹⁵N analyses. Results showed the oil palm plantlets, stimulated top and root growth by 30% and 60%, respectively and increased the host photosynthetic rates compared to the control. Azospirillum (Sp7 and CCM 3863) is a potential biofertilizer and bioenhancer for sustainable oil palm plantlet cultivation and saves cost on nitrogen fertilizer.

SELECTIVITY AND KINETICS OF INTERESTERIFICATION REACTION OF GLUCOSE PENTAACETATE WITH FATTY ACID METHYL ESTERS

DZULKEFLY, K*; OLOBO J OBAJE*; LIM, W H** and HAMDAN, S.

Acetylated glucose fatty esters (AGFEs) were prepared by a solvent-free interesterification reaction of glucose pentaacetate (GPA) and mixed fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) of palm oil (PO)-based fatty acids. The relative selectivity of fatty acyl groups towards the GPA ring and the kinetics of the interesterification process were studied. The selectivity studies have shown that the longer chain fatty acyl acids group, were preferred in the interesterification process involving GPA and FAMEs. In the C₆ to C₁₀ fatty acids group, C₁₀ was the most favoured, while C_18:1 had the highest selectivity in the C₁₂ to C_18:2 group. The results also showed that the reactions involving oleic-FAME and C_6-10 -FAME proceeded viva zero-order kinetics with respect to GPA.

PHYSICAL MAPPING OF rRNA GENES ON Elaeis CHROMOSOMES

MADON, M*; CLYDE, M M**; CHEAH, S C* and HESLOP-HARRISON, J S

Physical mapping of rRNA genes by in situ hybridization was performed on Elaeis species chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on Elaeis oleifera chromosomes with probe pBG35 which contains 18S-25S rRNA genes from flax. Hybridization sites were located on the telomeric regions of an acrocentric pair of chromosomes and their satellite DNAs. Multiple labelling FISH was used to physically map the 5S and 18S-5.8S-25S rRNA multigene family in the interspecific hybrid of E. oleifera x Elaeis guineensis (OxG). Two heterologus labelled probes with 18S-25S (pTa 71) and 5S (pTa 794) rDNA were used for in situ hybridization of these chromosomes. It was found that 5S genes are situated on the proximal arms of the longest chromosome pair, or pair No.1. The 18S-5.8S-25S rRNA genes are located on the telomeric regions of an acrocentric pair of chromosomes and on the satellite DNAs. The technique can now be used to locate other sequences of interest in the Elaeis species.

FACTORS AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT OF Oryctes rhinoceros IN SOME SUBSTRATES COMMONLY FOUND IN THE OIL PALM ENVIRONMENT

NORMAN KAMARUDIN*; ZAIDI MOHD ISA**; MAIMON ABDULLAH** AND MOHD BASRI WAHID**

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the factors which affected larval development in four different substrates commonly found in the oil palm replanting environment. The percent survivorship of Oryctes rhinoceros was lowest in raw empty fruit bunches (EFB), followed by coconut trunk (CT) and oil palm trunk (OPT). Processed EFB and oil palm fronds (OPF) were found to be less suitable substrates, as indicated by the incomplete development of the larval stages. There were lower percentage of nitrogen in the OPF (0.45%) and EFB (0.35%), compared to CT (1.98%) and OPT (0.56%) substrates, which could have affected the duration of each developing stage. The higher starch content in OPT compared to raw EFB may also have influenced the development of the larvae. The weights of almost all the developing stages were higher in CT substrate. The second and third larval instars had consumption rates of 2.2 g day^-1 and 4.1 g day^-1 of CT and OPT substrates respectively. Although the consumption rates were higher in OPT, the weight of larvae remained significantly lower (p<0.05) than in CT. There was a significant linear relationship (p<0.001) between the percent moisture content and weight of the third instar larvae, showing water to be an important factor in ensuring weight increase in the larval and subsequently, pupal stages. Moisture content of 77% and above was essential for the complete development of O. rhinoceros. It is hoped that this information will lead to a modification of the zero burn replanting practice, so as to create less suitable environments for the beetle to breed in, thus avoiding the risk of O. rhinoceros attack.

SURFACE TENSION, FOAMING AND DETERGENCY PROPERTIES OF MIXED ALPHA-SULPHONATED METHYL ESTERS DERIVED FROM PALM STEARIN WITH SOME COMMERCIAL SURFACTANTS

LIM, W H and SALMIAH AHMAD*

The effects of sodium alpha-sulphonated methyl esters derived from palm stearin salt (a-SMEPS) and commercial surfactants (CS) in mixed micelle systems were studied as a function of their weight ratios. Changes in the surface tension were observed as the different weight ratios of the mixed surfactants. Only the a-SMEPS: AE-3EO system reduced the surface tension of a-SMEPS solution. Incorporation of a commercial surfactant into a solution of a-SMEPS also changed its foaming properties (foaming power and foam stability) and washing performance. No synergy was observed in dish washing performance. However, synergy effect on cloth washing was exhibited by a-SMEPS: AE-3EO, a-SMPES:SLES-2EO and a-SMEPS: ALS systems.

RESPONSE OF OIL PALM PROGENIES TO DIFFERENT FERTILIZER RATES

KUSHAIRI, A*; RAJANAIDU, N* and JALANI, B S*

Ninety-nine dura x pisifera progenies (genotypes) from six seed producers (populations) in Malaysia were subjected to three fertilizer treatments after field planting in 1983. The fertilizer treatments were half, normal and twice the standard estate rate. Yield recordings and bunch analyses were taken between 1987 and 1998. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) for fresh fruit bunch (FFB) number (BNO) and average bunch weight (ABW) showed significant differences for fertilizer, populations and genotypes. In addition, FFB differed significantly for genotype x fertilizer (GxF) interaction. Generally, FFB would increase at twice the estate fertilizer rate, but reducing the normal rate to half did not reduce the yield significantly. Despite improvements in ABW, reduction in FFB was due to lowering of BNO. Conversely, an increase over the standard fertilizer rate did not affect BNO. Populations 4 and 2 were high in FFB due to higher BNO and higher ABW, respectively. Progenies 4062, 4056 and 6094 shared the highest yields at half, standard and twice the standard estate rate, respectively.

ANOVA for bunch quality components was carried out and significance was detected for the populations and genotypes. Variation between fertilizers was significant for mean fruit weight, oil to bunch and kernel yield (KPY). High values for these characters along with FFB were advantages in certain populations and genotypes for higher total economic product (TEP). Highest TEP within the normal fertilizer level was recorded in Population 3, and at the altered levels was Population 4. Progeny 4051 was outstanding for TEP at half the fertilizer rate, Progeny 4056 at normal level and Progeny 5073 at twice the estate standard rate. Populations 4 and 2 offered prospects for higher oil yields at half the fertilizer cost, while Population 5 might be advantageous in lauric oil production.