FROM COCONUT FIBER (Cocos nucifera L.) TO EDIBLE SALT: PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF AN INNOVATIVE PRODUCT

Abstract

Coconut fiber (Cocos nucifera) is an abundant, inexpensive agricultural by-product with high potential for value-added processing. However, it is undervalued. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine the physicochemical characteristics of an edible salt obtained from the ash of this fiber. To do this, coconut fiber from the West Africa Tall (WAT) cultivar, immature with gelatinous almonds (N_IGA) and mature with hard almonds (N_MHA), was used. The fiber was incinerated to produce ash, which was washed, filtered and boiled to obtain salt crystals that were dried and then analysed. The yield, particle size, colour distance, pH and ash and mineral content were the parameters evaluated. It appears that the yield of N_IGA salt is around 1.89%, while that of N_MHA is 1.51%. These salts consist mainly of fine grains with a diameter of less than 500 µm. N_MHA salt has a darker orange colour than N_IGA salt. N_IGA and N_MHA salts have an alkaline pH (N_IGA: 12.59; N_MHA: 12.43). They are very rich in chloride (N_IGA: 14,755.35 mg/100g DM; N_MHA: 13,810.29 mg/100g DM), and potassium (N_IGA: 16,700.35 mg/100g DM; N_MHA: 15,950.71 mg/100g DM). They contain smaller amounts of sodium (N_IGA: 1,220.32 mg/100g DM; N_MHA: 1153.48 mg/100g DM) and phosphorus (N_IGA: 1427.65 mg/100g DM; N_MHA: 1361.19 mg/100g DM). Calcium content (N_IGA: 441.893 mg/100g DM; N_MHA: 410.584 mg/100g DM), magnesium (N_IGA: 252.73 mg/100g DM; N_MHA: 224.893 mg/100g DM), iron (N_IGA: 208.89 mg/100g DM; N_MHA: 180.89 mg/100g DM) and iodine (N_IGA: 44.45 mg/100g DM; N_MHA: 40.12 mg/100g DM) are low. Salts derived from immature and mature coconut fiber of the WAT cultivar are rich in potassium and low in sodium. They could be used as an alternative to table salt.