Pengaruh Perubahan Suhu terhadap Nilai FFA dan DOBI pada Crude Palm Oil Selama Proses Despatch

Temperature changes during handling and despatch can affect the quality of crude palm oil (CPO), but studies examining changes in its quality parameters under company operating conditions remain limited. This study aimed to analyze changes in free fatty acid (FFA) and deterioration of bleachability index (DOBI) values at different temperatures during despatch. The study used a quantitative approach with an observational method. The samples consisted of CPO from Despatch Tank A and Despatch Tank C that had been stored for two days and tested at temperatures of 40, 50, 60, and 70 °C. FFA values were measured by titration using NaOH, while DOBI was measured using a near-infrared (NIR) instrument. The data were analyzed descriptively by comparing the values of both parameters at each temperature. The results showed that FFA values ranged from 4.29% to 4.79%, while DOBI values ranged from 2.02 to 2.66. Both parameters exhibited different patterns of change across samples and showed no uniform trend as temperature increased. These findings indicate that temperature variations under the observed conditions were not accompanied by consistent patterns of change in FFA and DOBI. Monitoring both parameters simultaneously can provide an overview of CPO quality during despatch. This study provides preliminary data on changes in CPO quality during shipment and serves as a basis for further research involving more samples, more replicates, and longer observation periods.