ANALYSIS OF SAP SUGAR AND STARCH CONTENT OF FELLED OIL PALM TRUNKS AT DIFFERENT STORAGE TIME

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Date
2011-02
Authors
ABDUL HAMID, ZUBAIDAH AIMI
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Abstract
This research investigated the potential use of oil palm sap as a feedstock for bioethanol production. Sap from squeezed oil palm trunks was investigated. The sugar and starch content were further analyzed based on various cultivars, storage time, age and location. Four types of cultivars were used for the study that include; Dura x Pisifera mix (Dura x URT) , Dumpy x Yangambi x AVROS, Deli Dura x Yangambi (D3D x L236T) and Deli Dura x Pisifera x H&C. The felled oil palm trunks were stored at a different duration of storage time; 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days, before they were cut into discs. The disc was divided into 3 parts: inner (A), middle (B), and peripheral (C) parts, respectively. Each parts of the OPT was squeezed to obtain the fresh sap. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and phenol sulphuric acid method were used to determine the total sugar and individual sugar content of the sap. Starch in oil palm samples was analyzed using the method by Humphrey and Kelly. The anatomy structure of oil palm trunks was conducted through the Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and taken from the transverse section. The physical properties of the sample; moisture content and density, were investigated in accordance to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard. Microscopic investigation result showed that oil palm trunks contain abundant amount of starch especially in the upper part of oil palm tree. Based on the finding of this study on physical prope11ies showed that moisture content for all cultivars are from 147% to 1022% and gradually increased from inner to peripheral zone. In this study, cultivar Deli Dura x Yangambi (D3D x L236T) was identified to contain highest moisture among others samples. The density is higher from peripheral part and progressively lower in the inner part. Cultivar Dumpy x Yangambi x AVROS has been found to be the highest density among to the other cultivars. Sugar analysis showed the amount of sugar in the oil palm sap approximately more than 60% of the whole tree. Sugars exist in the sap and were found to increase as the storage time extended after felling especially after 30 to 60 storage days. The inner and middle parts (part A and B) were identified to contain highest total sugar content with presence of three main sugars glucose, sucrose and fructose and others sugars. Cultivar Dura x Pisifera mix (dura x URT) shows the highest total sugar in the sap with the concentration from 43.82 to 18l.89 mg/ml obtained by HPLC and 38.94 to 18l.74 mg/ml obtained by Colometric method. The starch content started to be high at the initial storage time and decreases around day 30 to 60 of storage. The average amount of starch content was found about 0.8% and the highest starch content was found in the inner part (A) and middle part (B). Cultivar Dumpy x Yangambi x AVROS was recognized to contain highest starch level about 0.07% and 3.21% and Deli Dura x Yangambi (D3D x L236T) type contain lower starch content, around 0.06% and 1.55% . Investigation on relationship of moisture content and sugar content found that higher moisture content will give lowest sugar content. Study on relationship of sugar content and starch content also showed that degradation of starch content is significant wi th the increases of the sugar content. Oil palm trunks were indicated as a promising feedstock that is suitable for the production of bioethanol with the appropriate storage time and type of cultivar. In this study, cultivars Dumpy x Yangambi x AVROS was found to be the most potential cultivar to be used to achieve this target.
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SAP SUGAR , STARCH CONTENT
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