Deacidification of Crude Palm Kernel Oil Using Cocoa Pod as Deacidifying Agent: Response Surface Optimization and Physicochemical Characterization

Deacidification of Crude Palm Kernel Oil Using Cocoa Pod as Deacidifying Agent: Response Surface Optimization and Physicochemical Characterization | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Deacidification of Crude Palm Kernel Oil Using Cocoa Pod as Deacidifying Agent: Response Surface Optimization and Physicochemical Characterization Adeyinka Idowu Alao, Babatunde Kazeem Adeoye, Precious Oluwatomisin Akinbobola, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9544869/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study investigated the optimization of crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) deacidification using cocoa pod husk as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical reagents. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate the effects of reaction time, temperature, and adsorbent dosage on free fatty acid (FFA) reduction and physicochemical properties. A central composite design with 20 runs assessed reaction time (16.59–33.41 min), temperature (56.59–73.41°C), and dosage (0.159–1.841% w/w). Results showed FFA reduction from initial values to as low as 0.66% (approximately 88% removal efficiency). Multiple response optimization revealed significant effects across all studied parameters. The quadratic model for FFA was highly significant (F = 35.96, p < 0.0001), with reaction time and adsorbent dosage showing the most prominent effects. Similarly, phospholipid content was significantly reduced (F = 60.07, p < 0.0001), demonstrating the dual functionality of cocoa pod husk. Optimal conditions identified were 25 minutes – reaction time, 65°C – temperature, and 1.0% w/w – dosage of deacidifying agent, with excellent deacidification (1.25% FFA) and oil quality preservation. Cocoa pod husk proved effective and eco-friendly for CPKO deacidification, supporting sustainable oil refining and agricultural waste valorisation. Chemical Engineering Crude Palm Kernel Oil Deacidification Cocoa Pod Husk Free Fatty Acids Response Surface Methodology Sustainable Processing Agro-waste Valorisation Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9544869","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":630536240,"identity":"2cba2b14-a3ad-4d4f-bbf7-bd1544cf2dd2","order_by":0,"name":"Adeyinka Idowu 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Characterization\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Crude Palm Kernel Oil, Deacidification, Cocoa Pod Husk, Free Fatty Acids, Response Surface Methodology, Sustainable Processing, Agro-waste Valorisation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9544869/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9544869/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study investigated the optimization of crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) deacidification using cocoa pod husk as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical reagents. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate the effects of reaction time, temperature, and adsorbent dosage on free fatty acid (FFA) reduction and physicochemical properties. A central composite design with 20 runs assessed reaction time (16.59\u0026ndash;33.41 min), temperature (56.59\u0026ndash;73.41\u0026deg;C), and dosage (0.159\u0026ndash;1.841% w/w). Results showed FFA reduction from initial values to as low as 0.66% (approximately 88% removal efficiency). Multiple response optimization revealed significant effects across all studied parameters. The quadratic model for FFA was highly significant (F\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;35.96, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001), with reaction time and adsorbent dosage showing the most prominent effects. Similarly, phospholipid content was significantly reduced (F\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;60.07, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001), demonstrating the dual functionality of cocoa pod husk. Optimal conditions identified were 25 minutes \u0026ndash; reaction time, 65\u0026deg;C \u0026ndash; temperature, and 1.0% w/w \u0026ndash; dosage of deacidifying agent, with excellent deacidification (1.25% FFA) and oil quality preservation. Cocoa pod husk proved effective and eco-friendly for CPKO deacidification, supporting sustainable oil refining and agricultural waste valorisation.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Deacidification of Crude Palm Kernel Oil Using Cocoa Pod as Deacidifying Agent: Response Surface Optimization and Physicochemical Characterization","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-28 15:09:38","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9544869/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"b1dbf6c4-53ee-43f8-b14a-49f28cf5cf17","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 28th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":67110862,"name":"Chemical Engineering"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-28T15:09:45+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-28 15:09:38","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9544869","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9544869","identity":"rs-9544869","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}