xii, a, 2 Brill, Parker, and Yates: Copra and Coconut Oil 



61 



The data in Table IV was obtained by measuring the average 

 temperature of a lot of copra with a moisture content correspond- 

 ing to the commercial samples described in Table I. The quantity- 

 amounted to over 200 piculs. The carbon dioxide measurement 

 was made by withdrawing air from the center of the pile and 

 determining the percentage of carbon dioxide by means of a 

 special absorption apparatus. The average temperature of the 

 air outside was 29° C, and the percentage of carbon dioxide in 

 the air was always less than 0.10. 



Five bags belonging to lot II were weighed before and after 

 storage in the general pile from which the carbon dioxide and 

 temperature determinations were made. 



Table V. — Weight loss in commercial copra stored twenty-five days 

 bodeoas. 



in 



1 



Bag No. 



Weight. 



Septem- 

 ber 26. 



October 

 19. 



Loss. 





Kilos. 



Kilos. 



Per cent. 



i 



45 

 56 

 73.5 

 70.5 



40.5 10.0 

 48. 5 j 13. 4 

 66.5 I 9.5 



8 







"" " """ " 







The copra in the general pile after storage was badly damaged, 

 particularly the bags of the lower layers, which were matted 

 together into a solid mass of black, foul-smelling, decayed ma- 

 terial. It is not reasonable to presume that in a large pile of 

 sacked copra much moisture will escape of its own accord. How- 

 ever, so long as moisture is sufficient in amount to cause mold 

 growth, the combustion brought about within the pile, as was 

 most evident during the periods of highest temperature condi- 

 tions, causes liberation of the moisture. The cause for a decrease 

 from a maximum temperature and from carbon dioxide condi- 

 tions to normal is influenced by two factors — there is a loss in 

 water to a point where the mold will not flourish, and the tem- 

 perature reached by the copra is sufficient to inhibit if not en- 

 tirely to destroy the mold spores. 10 



10 Rather, J. B., Journ. Ind. & Eng. Chem. (1916), 8, 604, has shown that 

 cottonseed containing a percentage of moisture greater than a certain 

 maximum heats when piled and that this heating continues until the 

 moisture content is lowered. An increase in the free fatty acids and a 

 darkening of the oil are results of the heating. 



