Impact of High Electric Field Pulses on Cell Disintegration and Oil Extraction from Palm Fruit Mesocarp

In this study the effect of high electric field pulses (HELP) as a non-thermal novel technique on cell disintegration and oil extraction of palm fruit mesocarp was investigated. The process parameters (pulse number 5 to 30 pulses, Field strength 1 to 5 kV/cm, capacity of capacitors 0.49 to 1.98?F) showed a direct effect on cell disintegration. Increasing the field strength increased the cell disintegration. Up to 97% cell disintegration was achieved after high electric field pulse treatment at 5 kV/cm and 30 pulses. In addition increasing the pulse number from 5 to 30 pulses (at constant field strength of 4kV/cm) increased the cell disintegration. Furthermore, the increasing the capacity of capacitors up to 1.98 ?F showed positive effect on cell disintegration of palm fruit mesocarp. The energy consumption and process time during cell disintegration using HELP was distinctly lower (about 12 kJ/kg, less than 30 sec.) compared to thermal treatment (at 80 ?C, 2h, about 210 kJ/kg). Pressings of palm fruit mesocarp have indicated that the remaining pulp after pressing for high electric field pulse pretreated samples (at 4 and 6kV/cm) was distinctly lower (about 20 and 18.6% respectively) compared to thermally treated samples (21.5%). The measurement of oil yield showed positive effect of HELP pre-treatment. Increasing the field strength increased the oil yield. The peroxide value of crude oil pretreated with HELP was slightly higher compared to untreated or thermally treated samples.