PENGARUH PENGGUNAAN DAN WAKTU TUNGGU MESIN PURIFIER TERHADAP KARAKTERISTIK FISIKOKIMIA CRUDE PALM OIL DI PT ASAM JAWA

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is an important plantation commodity that produces crude palm oil (CPO). The quality of CPO determines its value, storage stability, and processing efficiency. Several quality parameters, including moisture, impurities, and free fatty acids, must comply with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 01-2901-2006). The clarification and purification processes, particularly the use of a purifier machine, influence these parameters. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of purifier usage and operating time on the physicochemical characteristics of CPO. This study employed a factorial Randomized Block Design with two factors: usage (with and without purifier) and operating time (30, 45, and 60 minutes). The data were analyzed analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a 5% significance level. The observed parameters included density, impurity content, moisture content, free fatty acid content, and peroxide value. The results showed that the purifier machine improved the quality of CPO. Operating time significantly affected the moisture and impurity contents of CPO. The best observed operating condition in this study was a30 minutes, which produced CPO with 0.53% moisture, 0.016% impurities, 0.89 g/mL density, 2.91% free fatty acids, and 1.92 meq O₂/kg peroxide value.