Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2015, Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages: 143-147 143 Physicochemical Characteristics and Microbial Population of Palm Oil Sold in Major Markets in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa States, Nigeria Elijah Ige Ohimain 1 and Sylvester Chibueze Izah 2 * 1- Food and Industrial Microbiology Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, 2- Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria Abstract Palm oil has found application in both food and several industries. This study evaluated some physicochemical quality and microbial population of palm oil sold in some major markets in Yenagoa metropolis, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A total of twenty eight palm oil samples were obtained from seven markets, four being from each market. Standard procedures were employed to enumerate the microbial population and physicochemical quality of palm oil. The microbial population ranged from 3.802- 4.858 Log cfu/ml and 2.287 – 3.792 Log cfu/ml for bacteria and fungi respectively. The results of the physicochemical ranged from 4.503 - 8.467 (free fatty acid i.e. FFA), 2.600 - 9.275 Meq/kg (peroxide value), 3.775 – 12.000% (Impurity level), 0.550– 2.425% (moisture content) 191.50– 203.05mgKOH/g (saponification value) and 0.9250 - 0.9875 (Specific gravity). The Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in all the physicochemical in most of the markets apart from saponification value. Parameters such as FFA, impurity, moisture, specific gravity, saponification value were not within the recommended limits, while the microbial population was within the maximum range recommended by Nigerian Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) for vegetable oil. Key words: Bayelsa state, Market, microbial population, physicochemical properties, quality 1 Introduction 1 Palm oil is the most exploited and applied vegetable oil in Nigeria. Quality assessment of palm oil is an important index in evaluating its applications. About 55% of palm oil consumed in Nigeria is produced domestically and the rest 45% deficit are met through importation from major producing nation such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Presently, Malaysia and Indonesia account for about 89% of global palm oil, while Thailand, Columbia and Nigeria account for about 6% and the rest of the oil palm producing nations account for 5%. Palm oil is semi-solid and saturated at room temperature and can tolerate high level of heat and resists oxidation. Palm oil contain natural antioxidants. Palm oil is orange red to brownish and/ or yellowish-red in colour [1, 2] and is insoluble in universal solvent such as water and soluble in organic solvents like trichloromethane and alcohol [3]. Palm oil is widely used as food or as an input in feed production. Palm oil has also found application in industries such as pharmaceutical, detergent and soap, confectionaries, margarines, cosmetics and biofuel such as biodiesel. The quality of palm oil processed in Nigeria is influenced by the level of hygiene practiced by the processors in the processing mills. The imported palm oil often gets impaired due to prolong storage and /or transfer Corresponding author: Sylvester Chibueze Izah, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, E-mail: sylvesterizah@yahoo.com in unhygienic condition/container. Poor palm oil quality with regard to microbial and physicochemical properties affects some of its down streams applications. The physicochemical quality affects the industrial use of the palm oil such as biodiesel production [4]. The microbial composition influences its food application and in traditional medicine, hence causing health related effects. Several microorganisms are capable of flourishing in the palm oil. The type of microbial species and population pose danger to individual that consumes raw palm oil. Though, during cooking heat is applied which often eliminates or reduce the microbial populations, but some individuals still consumes raw palm oil especially in the rural areas. Majority of palm oil microbial species is part of normal flora which could have been introduced into the palm oil from the field and during processing especially by individuals under poor hygienic conditions. Some of these microorganisms often cause diseases on ingestion of raw palm oil. The microorganisms that have been widely reported to be found in palm oil include Enterobacter, Bacillus, Proteus, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Aspergillus, Candida, Mucor and Penicillium species [3, 5, 6], Trichphyton schoenleinii and Microsporium canisas [7]. These microbes are known to cause disease conditions. For instance, Proteus species is capable of causing urinary tract infection [3], Aspergillus species is capable of causing aspergillosis, endophthalmitis, meningitis, pulmonary osteomyelitis, endocarditis, myocarditis; Candida and Mucor species causing candidiasis and mucormycosis respectively [5]. Enterobacter species often causes respiratory tract infections, septicemia and meningitis [6]. Journal web link: http://www.jett.dormaj.com J. Environ. Treat. Tech. ISSN: 2309-1185