TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT ANALYSIS IN PALM WASTE EXTRACTS PREPARED BY ETHANOL- AND WATER-BASED MACERATION METHODS

Abstract

This study investigates the comparative analysis of total phenolic content (TPC) in palm waste extracts—empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm fronds (PF), and palm kernel shells (PKS)—using ethanol- and water-based maceration methods. Palm waste, a byproduct of the palm oil industry, represents an abundant but underutilized biomass with significant potential for phenolic compound extraction. Phenolic compounds are known for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and reducing properties, making them valuable in green chemistry and industrial applications. The extraction solvents, ethanol and water, were selected for their distinct abilities to dissolve phenolic compounds of varying polarity. Ethanol effectively extracts medium-polarity phenolics, while water targets highly polar compounds. Results showed notable differences in TPC among the three palm waste types and between the solvents used. For ethanolic extraction, PF exhibited the highest TPC (19.96 mg GAE/g), followed by PKS (5.63 mg GAE/g), and EFB (1.18 mg GAE/g), indicating the selective solubility of phenolic compounds in ethanol. Conversely, water extraction yielded higher TPC values across all samples, with EFB achieving the highest (26.31 mg GAE/g), followed by PF (22.32 mg GAE/g) and PKS (12.58 mg GAE/g), highlighting the abundance of hydrophilic phenolics in EFB and PF. These findings emphasize the influence of solvent polarity on phenolic recovery and underscore the potential of palm waste as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds.