Palm Oil contains high content of carotenoids and is a rich source of vitamin E consisting of tocopherols and tocotrienols which are well known nutritional antioxidants. Lipid oxidation has seriously limited the stability of palm oil resulting in rancidity. Therefore this work evaluates the antioxidant potential of Monodora myristica (African nutmeg) on Palm oil stability. Monodora myristica extract was obtained by maceration technique using n-hexane as solvent. Equal volumes of Palm oil obtained from one source were treated with different volumes (0.2ml, 0.4ml, 0.6m, 0.8m, 1.0ml) of African Nutmeg extract using syringe. Two experimental groups were prepared. A group were placed under the sun (S.S) and the other group in a room (S.R) for a period of two weeks. These treated oil samples were analyzed by titration, on weekly basis to determine the free fatty acid content and acid value. Results obtained showed that for the two groups of treated Palm oil, the free fatty acid content and acid value increased significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.01) at lower volumes of extract and as the period (week) extends. The free fatty acid content and acid value of oil samples treated with higher extract volumes decreased significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.01) for both groups (S.S and S.R). However all the values were higher than pre-treatment values. Hence, Monodora myristica extract reduces effect of lipid oxidation on palm oil and consequently increases its stability.
Application of infrared spectroscopic analysis for quantification of free fatty acid content at palm oil mills
