When it comes to the palm oil industry, choosing between a palm fruit oil production line and a palm kernel oil production line is a crucial decision for businesses. This article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the key differences between these two production lines, including raw material characteristics, processing flows, and equipment structures, to help enterprises make informed choices based on their raw material features and business needs.
Palm fruit and palm kernel have distinct characteristics. Palm fruits are the outer part of the palm, which are rich in oil. The oil extracted from palm fruits, known as palm fruit oil, is widely used in food, cosmetics, and biofuel industries. On the other hand, palm kernels are the inner part of the palm, and the oil obtained from them, palm kernel oil, is mainly used in the production of soaps, detergents, and confectionery.
To better understand the differences, let's take a look at the following comparison table:
| Raw Material | Oil Content | Main Product Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Fruit | About 45 - 55% | Food, Cosmetics, Biofuel |
| Palm Kernel | About 45 - 50% | Soaps, Detergents, Confectionery |
The processing flows of palm fruit oil and palm kernel oil production lines also have significant differences. Let's break down each key step, including crushing, steaming, pressing, and leaching, and analyze the differences in process parameters and equipment structure requirements.
In the crushing process, palm fruits need to be crushed to release the oil cells. The crushing equipment for palm fruits usually has a higher crushing ratio to ensure the full release of oil. For palm kernels, the crushing equipment needs to be more precise to avoid damage to the kernels. The pressure setting of the crusher for palm fruits is generally around 5 - 8 MPa, while for palm kernels, it is about 3 - 5 MPa.
Steaming is an important step in the oil extraction process. For palm fruits, steaming can help to soften the tissues and improve the oil extraction rate. The steaming temperature for palm fruits is usually around 100 - 120°C, and the steaming time is about 30 - 60 minutes. For palm kernels, the steaming temperature is relatively lower, around 80 - 100°C, and the steaming time is about 20 - 40 minutes.
Pressing is the core step of oil extraction. The pressing equipment for palm fruit oil production lines usually has a higher pressure to extract more oil. The pressure of the press for palm fruits can reach 20 - 30 MPa. For palm kernel oil production lines, the pressure of the press is generally around 15 - 20 MPa.
Leaching is used to further extract the remaining oil from the pressed cake. The leaching solvent and process conditions for palm fruit oil and palm kernel oil are also different. For palm fruit oil, the leaching solvent is usually hexane, and the leaching temperature is around 50 - 60°C. For palm kernel oil, the leaching solvent can also be hexane, but the leaching temperature is relatively lower, around 40 - 50°C.
Based on the above analysis, different production lines require different equipment configurations. Here is a comparison of the equipment for palm fruit oil and palm kernel oil production lines:
| Production Line | Crushing Equipment | Steaming Equipment | Pressing Equipment | Leaching Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Fruit Oil | High - ratio crusher | High - temperature steamer | High - pressure press | Hexane leaching tank |
| Palm Kernel Oil | Precise crusher | Low - temperature steamer | Medium - pressure press | Hexane leaching tank |
Let's look at a real - world example. A company once invested in a palm fruit oil production line but used equipment designed for palm kernel oil production in the crushing process. As a result, the crushing effect was poor, and the oil extraction rate was low. This shows that choosing the right equipment according to the raw material characteristics is crucial.
Now, we invite you to think about your own situation. Do you have more palm fruits or palm kernels? What are your main product uses? By answering these questions, you can make a more scientific decision on the production line selection.
If you have any questions about the selection of palm oil production lines, feel free to leave a comment below. We will be happy to answer them.
Are you interested in learning more about the technical details of the fully automatic palm kernel oil production line? Click here to explore now!
