YIELD, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MINERAL COMPOSITIONS OF ASH  DERIVED FROMEMPTY PALM BUNCH MATERIALS

C. P. Ukwu; A. L. Giwa; H. O. Obikaonu; M. C. Uchegbu; I. C. Okoli

doi:10.51791/njap.vi.5613

Authors

C. P. Ukwu Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526 Owerri, Imo State
A. L. Giwa Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526 Owerri, Imo State
H. O. Obikaonu Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526 Owerri, Imo State
M. C. Uchegbu Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526 Owerri, Imo State
I. C. Okoli Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526 Owerri, Imo State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5613

Keywords:

Ash, Palm bunch, Minerals, Monogastrics, Ruminants

Abstract

The study evaluated the yield, physical characteristics and mineral composition of ash derived from empty palm bunch samples collected from local oil mills located in the vicinity of Owerri, Imo state. The empty palm bunch were weighed and packaged into polythene bags until needed for ashing. About 20 kg sample of the dried palm bunch was weighed out, and burnt on a clean cement slab to avoid contamination. After proper combustion for about an hour, the remains (ash) was allowed to cool down, and thereafter gathered, weighed and sieved to ascertain the ash yield. Analysis of the physical characteristics of the palm bunch ash (PBA) such as the bulk density, water holding capacity, specific gravity, oil absorption capacity, total solids and the wettability were determined. Selected macro and micro mineral concentrations were also determined. Results revealed that the combustion of 50,000 g of palm bunch materials yielded 4.7% of PBA which is about 2350 g of the ash. The moisture content of the PBA was 10.18%. The Bulk density was 0.60 g/cm3 . The water holding capacity (WHC) of PBA was 7.34 g water/g ash. The Specific gravity value recorded in this study was 0.65 g/cm3 . An alkaline pH value of 10.5 was determined for the PBA. The quantitative order of minerals in the ash were K>Ca>P>Mg>Na>Mn>Fe>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr. The Potassium had the highest concentration of 209,683.33 mg/kg. It is concluded that, ashing of empty palm bunch materials resulted in appreciable quantity of palm bunch ash production with quality macro and micro minerals concentrations for monogastrics and ruminant animal’s nutrition.