Nut Crusher and Extractor
Palm kernel, the by-product of the oil palm industry, has a great potential for a source
of oil and dietary protein. The extraction procedure of oil from the palm kernel is distinct
from the palm oil extraction. The palm kernel is the true seed of the palm fruit,
hence it shares similar properties and processing or milling equipment with oil seeds
such as shea nuts, groundnuts, rapeseed, cottonseed, or coconut copra.
The oil extraction from the kernel is achieved by different methods (Fig. 11.11)
under different settings, with emphasis on the cost and safety aspects. The principal
methods include screw pressing, solvent extraction, and a combination of the former
and the latter (screw pressing followed by solvent extraction). The stages involved
in the palm kernel extraction is made up of grinding the kernels into smaller particles,
heating (cooking), and extracting the oil using an oilseed expeller or petroleum-
derived solvent (the use of volatile solvents is under threat as was highlighted in