Effect of Storage Temperature on the Stability of Phytonutrients in Palm Concentrates

Palm phytonutrient concentrates; a valuable by-product from the production of palm biodiesel contains an abundance of natural phytonutrients such as carotenes, vitamin E, sterols, squalene and coenzyme Q. The present research described the concentration of phytonutrients that obtained from palm biodiesel production. The concentration of phytonutrients available in palm phytonutrients concentrate is ten times higher than in crude palm oil. The most prevalent of the phytonutrients are carotenes (23,000-24,000 ppm), vitamin E (14,000-15,000 ppm), sterols (15000- 16,000 ppm) and squalene (2,900-3,100 ppm). These phytonutrients being extremely sensitive to temperature in nature suffer up to 70% of deterioration to their concentration at room temperature. The phytonutrients in the refrigerated samples however were able to retain most of their concentration with a minimal loss of less than 10% to their concentration.