Scale-Up and Development of a Community Industrial Prototype for Red Palm Oil Production Using Advanced Microwave Technology

This study presents the development and evaluation of a microwave-assisted prototype for scalable red palm oil production. The prototype, equipped with industrial magnetrons delivering a combined power of 2 kW, is designed to process up to 6 kg of oil palm fruit per batch. The design, optimized using COMSOL Multiphysics simulations, focused on waveguide configurations and cavity dimensions to ensure uniform energy distribution and minimize hotspots. Performance testing validated the system’s capability to deliver consistent heating across six trays and produce high-quality red palm oil. Results demonstrated a significant reduction in free fatty acid (FFA) content from 20.4% to 2.1% while retaining carotene content within the industrial standard range (558.2 ppm). The Deterioration of Bleachability Index (DOBI) showed a slight reduction but remained within acceptable limits, underscoring the prototype’s ability to maintain oil clarity and processability. Microwave heating effectively inactivated lipase enzymes, reducing FFA and enhancing oil stability, as confirmed by previous studies. The chemical-free process preserved essential nutrients, aligning with sustainability goals. This innovative system provides a scalable, energy-efficient solution for community and industrial applications, offering improved product quality with minimal environmental impact. Future work will focus on optimizing the system further and exploring its applications in broader agricultural processing contexts.