The crushing of palm kernel begins with the kernel production from the fiber/nut
pressed fiber separation. The press fiber from the digester is fed to a vertical column
(depericarper) where air is channelled to lift the fiber, thus separating the fiber from
the nuts. The processing chain of palm kernel oil (PKO) is shorter than the palm oil
processing chain. Fig. 11.11 shows a schematic diagram of the palm kernel processing
methods. Like palm oil, palm kernel oil loss begins in the plantation. This is because
any fruit not picked by the harvesters during harvesting amounts to the loss of PKO
bearing nut to the bush. Again, whole palm fruits are also lost during transportation
to the mills, sterilization, and stripping and fiber nut separation. These losses have not
been studied and estimated with respect to PKO. When the size of the plantations is
considered, the loss may be appreciable.