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Spontaneous heating and ignition in stored palm kernels—the role of anaerobic fermentation
Author(s) -
Palmer K. N.
Publication year - 1955
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740060905
Subject(s) - fermentation , ignition system , palm , anaerobic exercise , spontaneous combustion , oxygen , pulp and paper industry , food science , chemistry , environmental science , biology , combustion , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , physiology , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
The rate of absorption of oxygen by moist palm kernels which had previously fermented under anaerobic conditions has been studied. No evidence was found of the formation of reactive fermentation products able to absorb oxygen rapidly and heat the kernels, thus leading to spontaneous ignition. It is concluded that the spontaneous ignition of palm kernels in jute bags is less likely than was originally believed, and that the observed outbreaks of fire in these materials may have been due to other causes.