QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF CRUDE PALM OIL FROM SMALLHOLDERS IN ALEPEDEPARTMENT, SOUTHEAST COTE D IVOIRE

Chemical quality of crude palm oil (CPO) processed by smallholders and small-scale, artisanal producersin Alepe, Southeast department of Cote dIvoire is investigated. A total of 90 palm oil samples were collected in6 localities from five producerswomen each. Parameters measured included: moisture content (MC), impurity content (IC), free fatty acid (FFA), iodine value (IV), saponification value (SV), peroxide value (PV), para-anisidine value (p-AV), total oxidation (Totox), deterioration of bleachability index (DOBI) and total carotenoids (TC). Results revealed that all samples produced in Alepedepartment exhibited higher levels in MC(0.29-0.35%), IC (0.54-0.67%), FFA (10.70-17.27 %) and lower level DOBI (0.83-1.61) in comparison torecommended standards. IV, SV and PV levels recorded were within the stipulated standards except for MontezoPV (17.65 ± 1.38 mEq/kg) level above the above the acceptable limit. Whilep-AV, Totox and TC ranged from 2.61-15.86, 11.38-41.39 and 318 to 616 mg/kg levels, respectively.The high values of FFA and moisture recorded wereabove recommended limits due the chosen processing methods.