Accelerating crystallization of palm oil using acoustic wave induced cavitation technology

This study evaluates the effectiveness of acoustic wave-induced cavitation generation (AWICG: 100 Hz, 20 W, 5 s) compared to high-intensity ultrasound (HIU: 24 kHz, 200 W, 5 s) in accelerating palm oil crystallization. Solid fat content analysis showed that AWICG achieved initial crystallization growth rates comparable to HIU. Microstructural analysis using polarized light microscopy and fractal dimension quantification revealed differing crystallization mechanisms: After 14 days of storage, AWICG treatment resulted in significantly denser and more compact crystal networks compared to HIU and the control (p < 0.05), without altering crystal size, whereas HIU produced smaller crystals associated with less organized and weaker structural aggregates. Sensory evaluation using sunflower oil, a model for oxidation susceptibility, demonstrated that AWICG-treated samples exhibited no detectable off-odors, unlike HIU-treated samples (p < 0.001). These findings underscore AWICG’s potential in enhancing crystal nucleation efficiency via resonant Faraday wave-driven cavitation. Its lower energy consumption and stable crystal network formation suggest AWICG as a sustainable and effective alternative for lipid processing, addressing both crystallization kinetics and oxidation challenges.